The northern gateway to the Loire Valley and a popular day trip from Paris, the historic town of Chartres is quintessentially French – a storybook town of cobblestone lanes, half-timbered buildings and quaint stone footbridges crisscrossing the Eure River. Chartres’ most noteworthy attraction is the magnificent UNESCO-listed Notre Dame Cathedral and most visitors make a beeline for the Gothic masterpiece, renowned for its dazzling 12th- and 13th-century stained glass windows.
Additional highlights of a trip to Chartres include Raymond Isidore’s unique Maison Picassiette, the Bel Air frescoes and the Musée des Beaux-Arts, but the best way to discover its charms is by exploring the shops and cafés of the Old Town on foot, or hiring a boat or canoe to cruise along the river.
