Chartres: Medieval Town Center

Step back into the Middle Ages.

Surrounding Chartres Cathedral is an authentic medieval city. Over 145 acres of winding streets, peaceful squares, historic houses and churches, and a covered market
Chartres was built on a hill above the Eure river. At the highest point you’ll find the Cathedral. In the lower town, along the river, you’ll see old, open-air laundries, or lavoirs, while bridges, like the historic Pont Bouju, offer the best views of the riverbanks.
Stretching from the upper town, to the lower town are narrow roads, often paved with stones, connected by stairways, and lined with half-timbered and noble stone houses.  Popular café terraces overlook the cathedral square as well as the Place du Cygne, where you can relax alongside the locals, known as Chartrains.

See the medieval city come alive during “Chartres in Lights”

And don’t miss:

For a great, panoramic view of the town, walk along the cathedral’s north side to the gates of the Bishop’s Palace, now the Musée de Beaux Arts. The high garden terraces behind the palace command impressive views of the lower town, the river and beyond.

Visit the town on the “Petit Train”