Chartres: an artistic weekend in 8 steps!

You will certainly know Chartres for its famous cathedral, a gleaming emblem of Gothic art. If it alone justifies your visit to the city, do not hesitate to extend your stay to discover other treasures that will leave you with an indelible memory. Art and culture are predominant here: there is no time to be bored! Chartres in 8 steps, here we go!

Chartres Cathedral

You will undoubtedly be drawn first to the fabulous cathedral, a marvel of our heritage where Henry IV was crowned rather than at Reims due to his Protestant religion. It has existed in its current form since the 12th century and results from a reconstruction after the previous Romanesque cathedral was largely destroyed in a fire.

It should be noted that since work began immediately afterwards, it can be assumed it was already planned for some time. The fire may therefore have resulted from a construction accident, or may have been deliberately started by those wishing to transform the building. Having become a Temple of Reason during the French Revolution and narrowly escaping destruction by the Allies during the Second World War, the cathedral has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979.

Inside, splendid stained glass windows recently restored, the largest choir in France, a labyrinth engraved on the floor and several crypts will enchant your visit to the sound of the grand organ. Not to mention the extremely rich architecture and the art present in every element, statues and representations immortalised notably in bas-relief. You will emerge filled with deep respect for such majesty!

The Fine Arts Museum

Located immediately next to the cathedral, Chartres Fine Arts Museum is housed in the former bishop’s palace. It displays ancient and modern art collections featuring paintings and sculptures, as well as furniture, polychrome woodwork, archaeological objects and Oceanic collections.

It should be noted that all the buildings, dating from the 15th, 17th and 18th centuries, are listed historic monuments and constitute a beautiful setting that adds to the splendour of the visit.

The Stained Glass Museum

Continuing with the artistic theme, the stained glass museum presents no fewer than 70 authentic Renaissance stained glass windows. There is also a close link with the cathedral, thanks to an educational room that uses models and diagrams to explain the history and symbolism contained in the stained glass of the religious building.

In the basement, a Gothic-vaulted room hosts temporary exhibitions of contemporary stained glass. A tip: opt for the guided tour, which will greatly enrich your observation and allow you to immerse yourself in the history.

Discover the haute ville and the basse ville

The two constituent parts of the city have, since the Middle Ages, been divided into two parts by a difference in elevation of 30 metres. The basse ville (lower town) hosts activities linked to proximity to the river, such as mills, shoemaking or tanning. You can also find clues in the street names to the work that once took place there.

Within the haute ville (upper town) stood the county castle and the cathedral. Of the former, no trace remains visible but the location is frequented by a great number of people: the covered market on Place Billard.

Chartres in lights!

Since 2003 and the first Festival of Light, the city has made its illuminations into major events. Currently and until at least 1st January 2022, no fewer than twenty remarkable sites are highlighted each evening, to the great delight of walkers.

In addition, guided tours tell the history of the city’s heritage and stage the illuminations around themed routes. During the annual September festival, street animations enrich the spectacle and new features are revealed. A not-to-be-missed appointment!

The Compa

Also known as the Conservatoire de l’Agriculture de Chartres, it is France’s first agriculture museum which aims, beyond displaying various historically used tools, to help understand the agricultural world and its issues on a global scale.

Spaces spread over 3,000 m² tell the history of the rural world, the representation through the centuries of the peasant image, and question the greatest challenge of tomorrow: feeding a population that will exceed 9 billion people within 30 years.

The Picassiette House

What a strange name for a magnificent place! An extraordinary man, Raymond Isidore, devoted the greater part of his life to decorating his house and garden. His favourite material? Pieces of plate that he collected from public waste tips!

Both the walls and ceilings, as well as the furniture, are covered in faïence, for a simply incredible result imbued with a unique kind of magic.

The Bel-Air Frescoes

What a pleasure to walk through the streets of the Bel-Air district and discover the frescoes covering more than 4,000 m²! In total, 16 panels covering entire façades allow you to admire in trompe-l’œil scenes relating to the identity of Chartres and the region from 4 angles: agriculture, architecture, the banks of the Eure and Cosmetic Valley.

It should also be noted that Chartres art has found other supports in the area, via two local artists who painted frescoes on some electrical transformers.

One weekend would not be enough to see more, but our non-exhaustive list could be enriched by many charming places, particularly of architecture or gastronomy. Feel free to form your own idea as you wander. Enjoy your visit!