Chartres is the capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France, located in the south-est of Paris (96kms)
Access
The Gare de Chartres railway station offers frequent services to Paris, and connections to Le Mans, Nogent-le-Rotrou and Courtalain. The A11 motorway connects Chartres with Paris and Le Mans.
Activities
The town is best known for the Cathedral of Chartres (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres), built in 1205 and 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. This Cathedral is often said as the most beautiful and large cathedral in Europe. The churches are also must-see places: Saint Aignan, Saint Pierre (which offers wonderful stained-glass window), and Saint Andrée (now a concert and exhibitions room).
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, perfumes, dyeing, and stained glass.
You can stroll in the picturesque and streets among old bridges, laundries, and mills. On the riverbanks of the Eure you can enjoy wonderful views on the Cathedral.
In Chartres you have many places to visit, such as:
- The International centre of the stained glass
- The House of Archaeology created in 1993 which gathers the Cenres of: the searches in Archaeology, the documentation conservation, the preventive management of the soil, the training for Archaeology, the maintaining and developing historical and cultural heritage.
- The History Attic
- Frescos on the walls of the town…
Gastronomy
There are lots of local specialities:
The Mentchikoff: a fine chocolate with praline and meringue.
The “Pâté de Chartres” mostly made of hunting, famous since the 18th century
The “Eurélienne”: a beer with labour methods 100% natural
The “Rosé de Chartres”. on September 25th 2006 the first harvest of the century took place in Chartres.
The “Baguette Retrodor” made with meal without additives. This baguette benefits from an international reputation.
Many others: tea, honey…
- Restaurants and bars
There are lots of nice place to eat and to have a drink in Chartres. one of the best one is St George – Le Grand Monarque.
Travel from the UK
By air: Ryanair flies to Tours and Poitiers from Stansted.
By rail: catch the Eurostar to Paris (Gare du Nord) and then connect with a TGV line to Le Mans, Angers, Nantes, Poitiers, La Rochelle and Angoulême from Gare Montparnasse.
Our team of sale advisers at Sextant Properties will be happy to help you to find a property in Chartres. We have a large network of partners in Centre. All of them are registered French real estate agents and speak both French and English. Whatever kind of property you are looking for: farmhouse, longere, barn, gite, B&B, country house, mill, castle or chateau, we will do our best to find a property in Chartres matching your requirements.