My son is working on a school paper on Chartres and we would like to spend a few days in the area. We do not drive! <BR>Questions: Charming hotel in Chartres within walking distance of cathedral?<BR>What chateaux are accessible from Chartres by train? If you had to pick one for an overnight which would be the most atmospheric?<BR>How long to plan from Chartres to CDG by train. That is, how long before the flight?

There have been a few good chartres threads in the past. It's easy to get by train from Gare Montparnasse -- I leave it to others to help you with interesting places you can get to by train FROM Chartres.<BR><BR>In my investigation the hotel we had picked out [for a trip that didn't materialize] was this one: http://www.bw-grand-monarque.com/eng/<BR>It's within walking distance of the cathedral. I'm still interested in other options myself as we WILL spend the night there someday.

On my last trip to Paris we took a day trip to chartres, the catherdral was magnificent, I prefered it to Notre Dame. However it would not be a place I would want to spend more then a day in. I did stop in a very small hotel for tea that was very sweet and the people actually opened up for us when they were closed. There were a group of local men in their 60's playing cards. I wish I could remember then name. It was off the main street , diagonally from a war memorial. Maybe someone here knows the name.

Hi Momrath & Sally!<BR><BR>I stayed 1 night at the Grand Monarque a few years ago. Very good location, I walked there with a rolling suitcase (as did others) from the train station. It was about 3 long blocks, one of which was uphill.<BR><BR>Hotel was nice & in a very old building. Long, dark, narrow hallways to get to room. My room was very nice with bath & faced inner courtyard as I had requested. So, no view. Breakfast included.<BR><BR>They have an excellent restaurant, but it's extremely formal = cold, distant staff. I would not eat there again.<BR><BR>Hope this helps! Have a great trip!

Momrath,<BR><BR>Never stayed overnight in Chartres, but I can help you with your other questions.<BR><BR>A) Day trips from Chartres<BR>- Le Mans: close by (about an hour ny train) with another GREAT gothic cathedral and a pretty old town. <BR><BR>- Angers: the chateau has the most amazing medieval tapestries you will ever see. There isn't that much left of the castle itself however. Another pleasant old town. About 2.5 hours by train.<BR><BR>That said, if you don't drive, you're probably better off basing yourself in Paris near the Gare Montparnasse, from which you can reach Chartres in less than an hour. The day trips from Paris that I mentioned as well as Tours can all be reached more quickly from the Gare Montparnasse by TGV than from Chartres and service is much more frequent.<BR><BR>B) Chateaux:<BR>I assume you mean chateaux in the Loire valley... Without a car your best base would be Tours - there are several threads about "doing" the Loire without a car on this forum, do a search. My personal favourite chateau is Chambord, but it's a little far.<BR><BR>C) Making your flight:<BR>Ther easiest way to reach CDG from Chartres by public transportation would be to take the train to Montparnasse and then the Air France bus to the airport. This trip should take 2,5 to 3 hours, so would advise leaving 4,5 to 5 hours before your flight. Perhaps there is an airport shuttle service from Chartres - I would check with your hotel. If you're in Tours on your last day, you might be able to take a TGV from Tours or St. Pierre des Corps station straight to CDG.<BR><BR>Finally, here are several SNCF (french train operator) sites which could come in handy:<BR><BR>For schedules from Chartres to Le Mans, Angers and Tours:<BR>http://www.ter-sncf.com/UK/centre/default.htm<BR><BR>For service from Chartres to the Paris area (city & airport):<BR>http://idf.sncf.fr/GB/default.htm<BR><BR>For long distance TGV travel (you must book a seat on these trains):<BR>http://www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/_SvHomePage?_TMS=1019163923424&_DLG=SvHomePage&_LA NG=UK&_AGENCY=VSC<BR><BR>Bon voyage,<BR>Andre

Thanks very much for this information. What I'm now thinking about doing is spending 1 or 2 nights in Chartres then taking the train to one other place for 1 or 2 nights. What would be everyone's top choice?<BR>Is Chartres cathedral lighted at night? That is, if you're outside can you see the windows lighted from the inside?