How to Take a Day Trip From Paris to Chartres

CHARTRES, FRANCE

Visiting Chartres as a Day Trip from Paris

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how to get from paris to CHARTRES

Train from Paris to Chartres

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how much time you’ll need in chartres

A Half or Full Day in Chartres

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Things to do in chartres

Chartres, Cathedral, Église Catholique Saint-Aignan & Chartres en Lumières (Chartres in Lights)

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Bonjour!

If this is your first time on The Weithouse - welcome! My name is Taylor and I’m the girl behind the screen and camera bringing you resources to help you plan the trip of your dreams.

In January of 2022, my husband and I left our home in Atlanta, packed our bags and moved to Paris! Every day we wake up in disbelief that we get to call this incredible city our home, a city full of rich history, world-renowned food, and beauty hidden around every corner.

In this How to Day Trip Guide: Paris to Chartres we will give you all the information you need (from train times to the best time to visits) to plan a day trip from Paris to the small town of Chartres.

Bon voyage!

chartres, france

If you’re ideal day trip from Paris looks like skipping the chateaux and wine and discovering a small French town in the countryside, then plan a day trip from Paris to the town of Chartres, France. Chartres is famous for it’s very own Cathédrale Notre-Dame, and is also full of adorable half-timbered houses and even a little river.

Is Chartres Worth Visiting?

Chartres is definitely worth visiting and is a great day trip destination, especially if you’re looking to see a small French village (in comparison to the grandeur of Paris) and enjoy just wandering around small cobblestone streets. Although there might be less activity in comparison to a day trip to Fontainebleau or Chantilly, Chartres is an effortless adventure if you’re looking for simplicity and enjoy slow exploration.

HOW TO GET from Paris to chartres

Chartres is one of the best day trips from Paris due to its ease of access by train. The train from Paris to Chartres takes on average 1-hour, which allows for Chartres to be visited from Paris in a day or half day. In addition to the short train, there are around 32 trains connecting Paris to Chartres daily, allowing for you to have some freedom on when you arrive and leave.

To get from Paris to Chartres, simply book your train tickets from Paris Montparnasse - Chartres.

how much time you’ll need in chARTRES

How much time to spend in Chartres will depend on your speed of travel, however, you can easily visit Chartres in a couple of hours and be back in Paris for your dinner or sunset cruise on the Seine.

When personally visiting, I did Chartres as a day trip and had enough time to see the Chartres Cathedral, grab lunch and wander through the half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets. I personally felt like this was enough time to see what I wanted of Chartres, but you could of course spend an entire day discovering the city or even spend the night.

things to do in chartres

CHARTRES CATHEDRAL

Chartres’ claim to fame is its very own Notre-Dame Cathedral, and according to UNESCO.org is one of the most authentic and complete works of religious architecture of the early 13th century. The cathedral itself can’t be missed, for as you walk from the train station it proudly greets you first and welcomes you into its city of Chartres.

If you’re a lover of stained-glass, you’ll want to head inside of the cathedral to discover some of the most colorful and mostly original windows of the Chartres, Cathedral, and once inside, you’ll also discover the labyrinth which you can still walk today while meditating with Christ on death and eternal life (Cathedral-Chartres.org.)

Église catholique Saint-Aignan

Another beautiful church to discover in Chartres it he Eglise Catholique Saint-Aignan. During my day trip to Chartres, I actually just stumbled upon this church and decided to step inside.

I’m so thankful I did because the interior of the small (in comparison to the Chartres Cathedral) church was colorful and old and full of details and light that I couldn’t get enough of. These elements are due to the Renaissance style of the church, versus the Gothic style of the Chartres Cathedral, and again here you will find no lack of beautifully preserved stained-glass windows.

Chartres en Lumières (Chartres in Lights)

If you do find yourself spending the night in Chartres, you won’t want to miss the Chartres en Lumières, or Chartres in Lights, which illuminates more than 20 monuments in the town from April to January. The light show is the largest of its kind in the world, is offered free to the public and welcomes over 1 million visitors each year according to Chartresenlumieres.com, making it a must-see if you find yourself visiting during these dates.

STICK AROUND FOR A WHILE

Looking for other Paris day trip inspiration?

If you need more Paris day trip inspiration, you can find a roundup of our favorite day trip destinations in this Easy Day Trips from Paris by Train guide, or check out our day trip guides to Chantilly, France or Fontainebleau, France.

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