Chartres

Chartres Cathedral, the crown jewel of Gothic art and architecture, is located in the picturesque French countryside, just over an hour from Paris by train. In a dazzling display of architectural unity, the bulk of Chartres Cathedral was rebuilt after the large fire of 1194, from which the precious relic of the Virgin's tunic miraculously survived. Less than 30 years later, most of the present-day Cathedral was complete.

The three heavily decorated entrances (west, north, and south), each comprised of three doorways, show the stylistic transition from Early to High Gothic through jamb and tympanum sculptures . The sculpted voussoirs, which display figures such as Aristotle, Euclid, and Pythagoras, are testaments to the presence of the prestigious Cathedral School of Chartres, the most famous school in the West during the twelfth-century renaissance.

Inside the Cathedral, one can see more original thirteenth-century stained glass than anywhere else in France. In addition to the fascinating narratives about Biblical figures and saints, many of the lower panels of the windows depict different tradesmen: wine-makers, shoe-makers, furriers, butchers, bakers, etc., which, regardless of their (often varied) interpretations, give us a fascinating glimpse into medieval daily life.

This monument alone provides an unparalleled overview not only of Gothic architecture, sculpture, and stained glass, but also of medieval religious, secular, and intellectual life. Chartres is as fulfilling for the modern visitor today as it must have been for the medieval pilgrims who traveled there to honor the Virgin Mary, to whom the Cathedral is dedicated.

This excursion allows you 3 different options:

4-hour visit: depart from Paris at 8:15AM. 3-hour guided visit of the Cathedral, both interior and exterior, and then you are free to spend the rest of the afternoon visiting the charming town and all of its attractions on your own.

5-hour visit: depart from Paris at 8:15AM. 3-hour guided visit of the Cathedral, both interior and exterior, and the docent wraps up the walk with more entertaining medieval anecdotes while accompanying you back to Paris. This extra hour with the docent affords you time also to ask more questions, and gives the docent more time to go into greater detail and provide more information

8-hour (full-day) visit: depart from Paris at 8:15AM. 3-hour guided visit of the Cathedral, lunch (not included in fee), then a visit to the Cathedralââ'¡Â¬â'¾¢s crypt, the Stained Glass Museum, the nearby Church of Saint-Pierre, and a walk through the charming town.

Cancellation Policies