April 2025
Chartres is a doable day-trip from Paris or from the Loire Valley. And definitely worth the stop in order to see this Gothic masterpiece, the Cathedrale Notre Dame. It's the third largest Gothic Cathedral in the world, only behind Rome's St. Peter's and the Canterbury Cathedral (both of which I've been to!).
The windows were created by 12th and 13th century master glass artists and were saved from both World Wars by people painstakingly removing each piece and hiding them for safe keeping. I love hearing the stories of what the citizens of European towns did to protect their treasures and culture and history during those dark and destructive times.
The nave, 427 feet long, 20 feet wide and 120 feet high, is the widest of any church in Europe.
It's main "claim to fame" is this relic, a birthing gown supposedly worn by Mary when she gave birth to Jesus, which the church acquired in 876.
Easter Mass
The cathedral is beautiful by day and by night!
VERDICT: The town of Chartres is charming and seemed like it came right out of a set for Beauty and the Beast. But this cathedral is certainly the main attraction. If I had to choose just 1000 things in the entire world to see before I died, I'm not sure this would make the list (of note, it was removed from the 2011 2nd edition), but Paris is a "must do" and the Loire Valley is a "must do" and this is close enough to both, that it's absolutely worth the stop on your way to/from Paris or the Loire Valley!
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