Visiting Chartres and around
LE GRAND GITE DE CHARTRES
PLACES TO VISIT
FIRST DESTINATION TO VISIT AND EXPLORE : CHARTRES Eure et Loir
- Chartres's cathedral in Eure et Loir
The most perfect and the best preserved of religious art from the XIIth and XIIIth centuries.
Registred in World Patrimony of UNESCO since 1979
All informations To visit the cathedral
- The end of the afternoon : the best time to visit ans to admire the last ablaze gives a luxury of brightness at the 176 stained glass colors !
- From the tower, you have a fantastic view of the city and the open country !
- Other religious constructions to visit :
SAINT PIERRE'S CHURCH : an ancient abbay of the XI – XVIIth c. Masterpiece of gothic style and an ensemble of stained glass.
SAINT-ANDRE'S CHURCH : a collegiate roman church of the XIIth c. Now an art exhibition space.
- The international center stained glasses in the enclosure of Loëns :
Exhibitions and workrooms show you all concerning history, art and creativity of stained glass.
- So nice and so interesting besause of outsider art : La Maison Picassiette
- So nice and so interesting because of outsider art : video to have a look
- FINE ARTS MUSEUM in the former Bishops Palace, near the cathedral.
It contains a very rich collection of old and modern art ( Chardin, Vlaminck, Soutine) and Collection of Oceanic art.
- Every day FROM APRIL TO JANUARY THE NEXT YEAR “: Chartres en Lumières : where is it illuminated ?
At nightfall, the cathedral and the most beautiful sites are illuminated in an enchantment of colors and music for an unique experience. Have a walk to see the scenographies and the monuments highlighted and put in music
In Chartres you would particularly be interested by MEDIEVAL ARCHITECTURE :
- hillocks of narrow lines which go down to the lower town and the river Eure
- the old street “les écuyers “ and its particular stairs
- watermills, wash-houses
- work-chops of art-craftsmen
- little hunch-backed bridges crossing the river
AN OTHER DESTINATION : MESLAY LE GRENET very near of your accomodation
The church conserved frescoes of XVth century : A Dance of death.
WHAT TO VISIT WITHIN 30 KM ?
- Less than 20 km :
THE CASTLE OF VILLEBON
ILLIERS COMBRAY : The house of Aunt Léonie with the Museum Marcel PROUST, a writer.
The church of Saint Jacques XVth c.
The Pré Catelan, a famous garden.
- At 25 km VOVES'S CAMP : a camp of internement during the W.W II.A well-known memorial of the resistance.
-
At 30 km. MAINTENON'S CASTLE AND GARDENS
And near Maintenon : the medieval garden of the farm BOIS RICHEUX.