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Latest Chartres hotel reviews
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It's unclear exactly when the first church was built here. But the third one was consecrated in 876 by Charles the Bald (son of Charlemagne), who donated a holy relic called the Sancta Camisia. This piece of cloth was said to have been worn by the Virgin Mary when she gave birth to the baby Jesus. And so Chartres became a very popular shrine for pilgrims from all over Europe.
In time, the Cathedral's school acquired a reputation as a great center of learning under the scholar Folbert. A fire destroyed it in 1024. But with generous donations from all over Europe, it was rebuilt as a Romanesque cathedral.
This new one was destroyed by yet another fire in 1194, except for one of the spires. The fire also spared the relic. So it was rebuilt again, in the newer Gothic style. Completed in 1260, it has undergone only minor modifications since. That's why the left spire contrasts with the older right one.
The interior is enormous, with a collection of carvings and stained-glass windows. This is one of the grandest cathedrals in Europe, with a unique opportunity to compare the Romanesque and Gothic styles. And yes, the relic is still there.
Written Nov 19, 2008
Website: http://www.diocese-chartres.com/cathedrale_site/index.php
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The Eure River, which at this point divides into three branches, is crossed by several bridges, some of them ancient, and is fringed in places by remains of the old fortifications, of which the Porte Guillaume (14th century), a gateway flanked by towers, is the most complete specimen. The steep, narrow streets of the old town contrast with the wide, shady boulevards which encircle it and divide it from the suburbs. The Cbs St Jean, a pleasant park, lies to the north-west, and squares and open spaces are numerous.
Written Nov 10, 2008
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The Eure River, which at this point divides into three branches, is crossed by several bridges, some of them ancient, and is fringed in places by remains of the old fortifications, of which the Porte Guillaume (14th century), a gateway flanked by towers, is the most complete specimen. The steep, narrow streets of the old town contrast with the wide, shady boulevards which encircle it and divide it from the suburbs. The Cbs St Jean, a pleasant park, lies to the north-west, and squares and open spaces are numerous.
Written Nov 10, 2008
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We were told that the town was divided in who lives where. This part of town was where the washing ladies would live and bring the washing from the rich down here to be washed and ironed before returning them to the manors
Written Nov 10, 2008
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Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres is considered to be the finest gothic cathedral in France. Today it is included on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
The Cathedral.The abbey church of St Pierre, dating chiefly from the 13th century, contains, besides some fine stained glass, twelve representations of the apostles in enamel, created about 1547 by Léonard Limosin.
The stained glass windows was financed by the city.
Written Nov 10, 2008
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Exploring Chartres is a very nice thing to do. This town has so many hidden gems in the back streets that you will miss if you only run to see the Cathedral.
Chartres is one of the most important market towns in the region of Beauce (known as "the granary of France").
The game-pies and other delicacies of Chartres are well known, and the industries also include flour-milling, brewing, distilling, iron-founding, leather manufacture, perfumes, dyeing, and the manufacture of electronic equipments, car accessories, stained glass, billiard requisites and hosiery.
Written Nov 10, 2008
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The one thing I read about when researching the place prior to leaving for Europe, was the fantastic Cathedral. It seem that the town is best known for the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, widely considered to be the finest gothic cathedral in France. Its historical and cultural importance is recognized by its inclusion on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The abbey church of St Pierre, dates back to the 13th century. It contains, besides some fine stained glass, twelve representations of the apostles in enamel, created about 1547 by Léonard Limosin.
The inside of the church is just magnificent.
Written Nov 10, 2008
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$s4 Since the Middle Ages, people have been coming to Chartres on Christian pilgrimages. It was the poet Charles Péguy (1873-1914) who had revived the pilgrimage route between Paris and Chartres before the First World War. After the war, some students carried on the pilgrimage in his memory. Nowadays, the association Notre-Dame de Chrétienté (http://www.nd-chretiente.com), with offices in Versailles, organizes the annual 100-km pilgrimage. This pilgrimate takes place on foot from the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris to the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres. Each year approximately 15,000 pilgrims partake.
Written Nov 10, 2008
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I full heartedly encourage a visit to Chartres. I hope however when you go you spend more time than we did. I submit this tip only to document our passage through this town. We wandered the cathedral during vespers. We did enjoy the music filling the space as we reverently perused the aisles. We marveled at the blue stained windows, at the intricate carvings around the choir, at the relic whether actual or a stand in of the "Holy camisole". Somehow we missed the labyrinthe, though it was hiding under the chairs anyway. We really appreciated having seen this edifice when the next day we wandered through Notre Dame de Paris. The contrast between the two made the unique aspects of each more poignant (Notre Dame being higher, Chartres wider among others).
Written Jul 13, 2008
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The nice thing, to me, about the numerous carved figures in Chartres catherdral is not the exquisite workmanship or the storytelling subject matter. Although both those features are wonderful.
What I really like is that they appear to be portraits of real people. Like many stone portraits from the Roman era, each face has real character and if made flesh would look like people in the street.
I like to think that these stone artists based at least some of these portraits on friends and family.
Written Jun 21, 2008
Address: 16 cloitre Notre-Dame, Chartres, France
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Reviews and photos of Chartres attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Chartres sightseeing.
The nice thing, to me, about the numerous carved figures in Chartres catherdral is not the exquisite workmanship or the storytelling subject matter. Although...
4 members live in Chartres
Q: Hi! I would like to travel from Chartres to Orléans, preferably by train. Are there any trains? Is there a bus to catch? How long...
A: Eva-li, there are no direct trains from looking at www.tgv-europe.com, so you must go via Paris or via Tours Centre. The trip is around 4 hours, 45mins (depending on the...
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1
In 3 decades we have visited Chartres at least 4 times. The first time we went as most tourists do, on a do-it-yourself day trip from Paris. We were totally overcome (as was our 10 year old grandson 8...
2
We were fortunate to visit this marvel of a cathedral on a sunny day. The nearly two hundred stained glass windows turned the interior into a prism of colors emanating from every side. It was an...
4
I was told severally about the importance of this pilgrimage centre by friends and colleagues. But, going there was not really a planned trip. I had set out to see Versaille for the second time with...
5
I've got some interesting experiences in Chartres. I'd love to share with you the 38 tips I've written, the 197 photos uploaded, and 7 travelogues I've created.
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