Private tours to Chartres

Are you planning to visit the cathedral of Chartres?

The magnificent town of Chartres is centrally located in the department of Eure-et-Loir (28000) in Normandy. Situated just 56 miles south-west of the capital, Chartres can be visited on a full day or half day tour. Famous for the beauty of its Gothic cathedral, the city attracts around 1.4 million tourists every year from all four corners of the globe.
You can’t help but be stunned by the beauty of this building, which has been exceptionally well-preserved. Well before arriving in Chartres you will catch sight of the cathedral, which is visible from 6 miles away in all directions. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site a visit to the cathedral is a must for anyone who is spending a few days in Paris and is passionate about architecture.

Practical information for visiting Chartres

The cathedral is currently undergoing major renovation work at a cost of several million Euros to theFrench Ministry of Culture. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. However the building will remain open throughout. The cathedral is open every day from 8.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. and entrance is free. Your visit will made even more fascinating in the company of an expert tour guide which we can book for you.

History of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Chartres

In fact there are not one but two cathedrals in the town of Chartres. This is because the stunning Gothic cathedral we see today was built on the ruins of a Romanesque cathedral which was destroyed by a terrible fire in 1194. The origins of this building’s construction are very ancient and date back to the year 350. Destroyed by the Vikings and restored again by both Charles the Bald and then Bishop Fulbert, the cathedral was completely burnt down in the fire of 1134.
It took about thirty years for the present-day building to be constructed.

Every description of Chartres cathedral tells the story of King Henri IV’s coronation, which took place there on February 27th in 1594. Legend has it that the king entered the cathedral on horseback. The truth is less impressive as he actually arrived on foot. The event itself was unique: it was the one and only time that a French king was not crowned in Reims cathedral (which happened to be under siege at the time).
Chartres cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic art and hugely influenced the development of this architectural style not just in France but also in the rest of the world. Notre-Dame-de-Chartres symbolizes medieval Christianity and exemplifies Gothic art.

The stained glass windows of Chartres cathedral

As a visitor entering the cathedral, you will immediately be dazzled by the beauty of the stained glass windows which embellish the building. In all there are 172 bays and windows displaying 28,000 square feet of glass. The most dominant color for the stained glass windows is a cobalt blue which is unique to Chartres and is now known as « Chartres blue ».