Chartres
Chartres is known for its Gothic cathedral and blue medieval stained glass, about 90 km southwest of Paris.
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Chartres is a city in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France, about 90 km southwest of Paris, and the prefecture of the Eure-et-Loir department. The main draw is the cathedral, Notre-Dame de Chartres, a Gothic building and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its stained glass covers about 2,600 square meters across 172 windows, and the blue glass known as bleu de Chartres is famous worldwide because no one has been able to replicate it. The cathedral sits on a hill above the Eure, and its two spires can be seen across the flat plain around the town.
Below the cathedral, the old town has narrow medieval and Renaissance streets, with a steep upper town and a lower town along the river. Chartres was the capital of the Celtic Carnutes, and it lies on the Via Turonensis, a medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Plan a day for the cathedral, the glass and a walk through the old streets, or add a second day for the riverside parks and museums. Spring is the driest season, with about 120 to 150 mm of rain according to Météo-France.
Chartres in five
- Take a morning train from Paris MontparnasseRegional trains reach Chartres in about an hour. Leave early to see the cathedral in good light and to be back for dinner.
- Allow 1–2 hours inside the cathedralThe stained glass is the main draw. Check the official site for opening hours, closed areas and any guided visits.
- Walk the old town down to the EureThe lower town has timber-framed houses, river paths and cafés. It rewards a slow loop after the cathedral.
- Pair it with Versailles or the LoireChartres works well beside Versailles on a two-stop day or as a start to a Loire trip.Versailles
Things to do in Chartres
See all attractions in Chartres
Need to know
- Airport
- Paris airports; no airline service in Chartres
- Getting there
- Train from Paris Montparnasse about 1 hour
- Getting around
- Walkable; cathedral to station is about 10 minutes
- Best base
- A day trip from Paris; or the old town for an overnight
- Time needed
- A half-day to a full day
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCloudy12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low2°Cold, quietJanuaryCloudy
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh9°Low3°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Windy, quietMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Windy, quiet
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low5°Spring, openAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, open
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Green, mildMayRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, mild
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Warm, busyJuneRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- JulyPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh25°Low14°Warm, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 44 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Warm, busyAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Mild, calmerSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Autumn, mildOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn, mild
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Rain, quietNovemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, quiet
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Cold, lightsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, lights
Average daily high and low in Chartres, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Chartres
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 88%
- Wind
- 17 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 38%
Chartres
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°6°38%Monday: Rain. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 38%.
- Tue9°4°3%Tuesday: Rain. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed10°3°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°2°10%Thursday: Rain. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Fri10°2°11%Friday: Fog. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sat11°3°13%Saturday: Fog. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Sun10°2°11%Sunday: Rain. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 11%.
Updated 05:52 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- MayVillette SoniqueParis, a day trip
- JunSolidaysParis, a day trip
- AugRock en SeineParis, a day trip
- SepFête de l'HumanitéParis, a day trip
Before you go to Chartres
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Chartres, checked
- Non-EU visitors may stay 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check your entry scheme on France Diplomacy before you fly.Source
- Carry your passport or ID card at all times, since police identity checks happen across France.
- Dial 112 for police, fire and ambulance from any phone in France.
- Declare cash above the EU threshold when entering or leaving the EU.
Plan around Chartres
Palace day trip on the same line
Read the guideBloisLoire château base to the south
Read the guideOrléansLoire city on the way south
Read the guideParisYour starting point and gateway
Read the guideGetting around FranceRegional trains and fixed fares
Read the guideAll of FranceRegions, cities and train routes
Read the guideChartres FAQ
Is Chartres worth visiting from Paris?
Yes for the cathedral and the stained glass, which are among the best-preserved Gothic works in France. It suits a half-day or full-day trip.
How long does it take to get from Paris to Chartres?
About an hour by train from Paris Montparnasse. Check the schedule for your day.
How many hours do you need in Chartres?
Three to five hours cover the cathedral and the old town. A full day lets you add a river walk and lunch.
Can you combine Chartres and Versailles?
Yes but it is a long day. Many travelers pick one per day to avoid rushing.
Is Chartres better in summer or winter?
Spring and autumn for mild weather and fewer visitors. In winter the cathedral stays open but hours and light are shorter.