Location: Chartres
Top Things to do in Chartres
Top 10 Things to do in Chartres, France
Chartres in France, from Europe region, is best know for Points of Interest & Landmarks. Discover best things to do in Chartres with beautiful photos and great reviews from traveller around the world here!
Restaurants in Chartres
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its high-Gothic art and architectural style.
Reviewed By David M - Vero Beach, Florida
I'm not sure that the bright walls and sculptures are necessarily to everyone's taste, but the appearance of the nave and choir is now very different from what it must have been. It's worth a visit for anyone interested in Gothic interiors. I was impressed, favorably.
I visited on a dull and drizzly day, not the best for enjoying the Cathedral's famous medieval stained glass. It was also not the best weather for photography of the exterior. The Cathedral's rather simple west (front) facade is in marked contrast to the much more sculptural front of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris.
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 298 reviews
A destination for pilgrims for over a thousand years, the Cathedral of Chartres, located on the plain of Beauce, was severely damaged by a number of fires. The façade and one of the spires date from the 12th century, the second spire was built in the 16th century on a 12th century base while the nave and chancel go back to the 13th century. From the top of the Jehan de Beauce tower, visitors can enjoy superb views of the surrounding country and take a close-up look at the Cathedral’s Gothic architecture. Cathedral designated world heritage site by UNESCO. Open: > 2nd May to 31st August: from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. > 1st September to 30th April: from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Last admission 30 minutes before closing time. Closed: > Sunday mornings. > 1st January, 1st May, 1st November, 11th November and 25th December. Admission fees: Adults : 7,50 €; Concessions (18 to 25) = 4,50 €; Free admission: minors under 18*; Free admission: 18-25 years old* (citizens of one of the 27 countries of the EU or are non-European permanent residents of France) * excluding school groups
Reviewed By clearairturbulance - Dallas, Texas
We visited in August of 2015 and it was a bit warm. Mostly we visited the Cathedral, took the small train ride, walked the town and visited shops, and ate at one of the excellent places immediately adjacent to the Cathedral. We enjoyed it enough that we had actually intended to return the following, but decided it was too hot.
We will be returning in 2017 and this time will be staying3 nights in Chartres. We plan to do the Malcom Miller tour this time. I am absolutely mystified as to why so many people have left negative or lukewarm reviews.
3. Chartres Historic Preservation Area
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 267 reviews
Reviewed By Pip T - Lake District, United Kingdom
We took a bike ride along a pebbled pathway from nearby campsite to Chartres old town. Pathway was a couple of miles and ideal for buggys/wheelchairs etc. The old town is beautiful and well worth a walk/ride around.
4. La Maison Picassiette
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 294 reviews
Reviewed By OliverE77 - Munich, Germany
While in Chartres in June, we visited the somewhat hidden gem of quirkyness, the Maison Picassiette. We were fascinated by the many shapes and colors of tiles and knick-knack used to create this eccentricity. I´m not too sure if I would call it art, but it´s definitely a place I would recommend you visit when in Chartres. We found it very entertaining!
5. Eglise St-Aignan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 100 reviews
Reviewed By Johnnybach - Bramhall, United Kingdom
Whilst somewhat unprepossessing from the outside, the interior of this church is a revelation. Richly decorated in beautiful, but now somewhat faded,colours, it is dire need of restoration. The roof is really beautiful and the cross beams are astonishing. The place is well worth a visit and whilst it cannot match the splendour of the nearby Cathedral, it has its own quiet majesty. France may be a secular state, but it should be spending money on the upkeep of such gems of its heritage.
6. Centre International Du Vitrail
Overall Ratings
4 based on 138 reviews
Reviewed By rtcfix - Cranleigh, United Kingdom
Having seen more than our fair share of stained glass, and there is certainly a lot in Chartres, is it was very interesting to learn about the history of stained glass and how it has been made through the ages.
7. Maison du Saumon
Overall Ratings
4 based on 126 reviews
8. St-Pierre
Overall Ratings
4 based on 130 reviews
Reviewed By tezpil - Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Down the hill, not so grand as the Notre Dame but again lots of stained glass. This Church is also illuminated at night when the en lumieresare are on.It will always be in the shadow of the Notre Dame.
9. Les Fresques de Bel Air
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By Simon J - Melbourne, Australia
What a great idea. These frescoes really add some wonderful color to the otherwise rather boring buildings in this part of Chartres. While the area was never before somewhere a tourist might go, now it's worthwhile to swing by and check out these amazing trompe l'ceil frescoes.
10. Le Compa, Conservatoire de l'agriculture
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 37 reviews
The largest museum in France dedicated to agriculture presents a unique collection of agricultural tools and machines. A lively in interactive presentation and temporary Exhibitions help visitors to understand the relations between food, farming and environnement.
Reviewed By Dee F - Youlgreave, United Kingdom
The use of an old train shed as the bright an airy home to the largest collection of old tractors and farm machinery in western Europe is inspired. Boys of all ages will love the tractors, the huge and slightly scary old threshing and binding machines, there are enormous gears and lumps of vintage machinery to which they can get up close and personal. There are gently intertwining galleries of photos of the Beauce countryside in all seasons, booths with comfy Seating where you can watch one surround-landscape morph into another - very restful after a day of hectic sightseeing - and a few, well selected bits of French landscape painting.
Exhibitions change regularly - we were lucky enough to catch one on the horse's role in French agriculture - there are organised weekend and holiday activities for children, some of which, at least, would be suitable for non-French speakers, staff are friendly & helpful, there is a small but interesting shop, with a wide choice of books and postcards, soft toys and replica old-style toys, souvenirs and a selection of seeds of interesting varieties of vegetables and herbs. Whimsically, the end of the exhibition hall is graced by a 3 metre-high pair of green wellies and outside, from the lawns in front of the building, is an imaginative horse head sculpture ... and an unexpectedly fine view of Chartres Cathedral.
Le Compa is within easy walking distance of the town centre and although clearly not for those whose holidays mean wall-to-wall history or shop-til-you-drop, this is a lovely & different way to spend a couple of hours if those who have any interest in or love of the countryside.
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