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Musée des Beaux-Arts de Chartres and around
A day in Chartres · 9:30–16:30 · 5 stops
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mapvivid.com/chartres/itineraries/musee-des-beaux-arts-de-chartres-and-aroundA walking day around Musée des Beaux-Arts de Chartres, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres and Jardin de l'Évêché, with a lunch break nearby and Église Saint-Pierre to end the day.
Every stop on Google Maps: open the list
Morning
9:301Musée des Beaux-Arts de Chartres ↗1 h 30 minClosed Tuesdays
Fine arts museum in the former bishop's palace next to the cathedral.
- Free entry on certain days
- See the enamels and harpsichords
↓ 2 min walk
11:002Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres ↗1 h
UNESCO-listed Gothic cathedral famed for its medieval stained glass.
- Free entry; bring binoculars for the windows
- Labyrinth is uncovered on Fridays in season
↓ 2 min walk
12:003Jardin de l'Évêché ↗1 hSunset
Terraced garden behind the cathedral overlooking the lower town.
- Best view of the cathedral's apse
- Free and peaceful
Lunch
13:00Lunch break nearby · Find restaurants nearby on Google Maps ↗
↓ 4 min walk
Afternoon
14:304Riverside path in the lower town with old wash-houses and bridges.
- Walk the path below the cathedral
- Photogenic washhouses and bridges
↓ 8 min walk
15:305Former abbey church with superb 13th-14th century stained glass.
- Free entry
- Windows rival the cathedral's
Good to know. Times are a guide for an unhurried pace. Check opening days before you go.
Chartres tips
Transportation
- Take the TER from Paris: trains from Paris Montparnasse reach Chartres in about an hour; buy tickets in the SNCF Connect app, as Navigo passes do not cover it.
- Walk the old town: Chartres is compact, with the cathedral, upper town and the Basse Ville along the Eure all reachable on foot from the station.
- Ride the little tourist train: a seasonal petit train loops through the old streets, helpful if you want to save your legs on the hills.
Local Hacks
- Visit Maison Picassiette: this house covered inside and out in broken-crockery mosaics is a quirky, lesser-known Chartres gem.
- Stroll the lavoirs on the Eure: the old wash houses and bridges in the lower town make for the best quiet walks and photos.
- Learn about stained glass: the Centre International du Vitrail explains the craft behind the famous Chartres blue windows.
Saving
- Enter the cathedral for free: Chartres Cathedral is free to visit; you pay only for extras like the crypt tour or tower climb.
- Shop the market: the Saturday market at Place Billard is great for picnic supplies like cheese, bread and fruit.
- See Chartres en Lumieres for free: the evening light show projects onto the cathedral and other buildings for free during its season.
Security
- Mind cobbles and steps: the lanes down to the Eure are steep and uneven, so wear comfortable shoes, especially when wet.
- Keep an eye on bags: Chartres is safe, but watch your belongings on busy trains and in crowds at the cathedral.
- Check the last train back: if you are day-tripping from Paris, note the last TER times so you are not stranded after the evening light show.
Cultural
- Say bonjour first: always greet shopkeepers and staff with bonjour before asking a question; it is basic French courtesy.
- Taste Mentchikoff and pate de Chartres: try the town's signature chocolate sweets and the traditional pate en croute from local shops.
- Walk the labyrinth: the medieval floor labyrinth in the cathedral is uncovered on certain days in the warmer months; walking it is a quiet ritual.
Weather/Clothing
- Pack layers for mild weather: Chartres has a temperate climate, with cool winters, warm summers and wind across the Beauce plain.
- Bring a jacket inside: the cathedral can be cool even in summer, so keep a light layer while admiring the stained glass.
- Carry rain gear: showers are common in spring and autumn, so an umbrella or rain jacket keeps sightseeing comfortable.
Planned with MapVivid. Opening hours change, so check each place before you go. This day, with the map: mapvivid.com/chartres/itineraries/musee-des-beaux-arts-de-chartres-and-around
Day 1 of 19:30–16:305 stops
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Chartres and around
A walking day around Musée des Beaux-Arts de Chartres, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres and Jardin de l'Évêché, with a lunch break nearby and Église Saint-Pierre to end the day.
Opens Google Maps with every stop of the day, ready to save to your own list.
Morning
109:30 · 1 h 30 minFine arts museum in the former bishop's palace next to the cathedral.
- Must know: Closed Tuesdays
2 tips
- Free entry on certain days
- See the enamels and harpsichords
📷 Photos
2 min walk
211:00 · 1 hUNESCO-listed Gothic cathedral famed for its medieval stained glass.
3 tips
- Free entry; bring binoculars for the windows
- Labyrinth is uncovered on Fridays in season
- Join an English tour if available
📷 Photos
2 min walk
312:00 · 1 hTerraced garden behind the cathedral overlooking the lower town.
- Tip: Sunset
3 tips
- Best view of the cathedral's apse
- Free and peaceful
- Lovely at sunset
📷 Photos
Lunch
Lunch break nearby · 13:00
Find restaurants nearby on Google Maps4 min walk
Afternoon
414:30 · 1 hRiverside path in the lower town with old wash-houses and bridges.
3 tips
- Walk the path below the cathedral
- Photogenic washhouses and bridges
- Free to wander any time
📷 Photos
8 min walk
515:30 · 1 hFormer abbey church with superb 13th-14th century stained glass.
3 tips
- Free entry
- Windows rival the cathedral's
- Lower town, 10 minutes' walk
📷 Photos
Take this day with you
Add the stops to your calendar
Times are local time in Chartres. Apple Calendar adds every stop at once (Outlook too). Google Calendar adds one event per link.
Times are a guide for an unhurried pace. Check opening days before you go.