<BR>there's no text for the question, unfortunately.

<BR>there's no text for the question, unfortunately.

This site is very hard to use...sometimes posted messages/replies never get sent, and it takes SO damn long for things! <BR> <BR>The original question was: <BR> <BR>How do you take the train from Gare Montparnasse to Chartres? Is it pretty easy? I heard that you have to punch your ticket in an orange post before you get on the train...is this true? <BR> <BR>Also, how much does it cost, and is the name of the train stop Chartres? Or something? <BR> <BR>Dan

I don't have the web site for the French rail system at my fingertips, no doubt someone else can post it for you. <BR>But yes, it's very easy to take the train to Chartres. There are little ticket punching machines just before you head out to the train tracks, you will see everyone punching their tickets. <BR>That sort of verifies where you boarded the train I guess, but it is important to do. <BR>Yes, the name of the stop is Chartres. <BR>As you approach the town by train you can look out the window and above the very flat landscape you will suddenly see the two mismatched towers/steeples of the cathedral. As I recall the cathedral is a 10 minute walk from the station. <BR>You will pass cafes and yummy patisseries along the way. <BR>

I went a year and a half ago, and I think the price was somewhere around $25 round trip per person.

thank you for your info you guys! <BR> <BR>i have a final question (i love doing things at the last minute--i'm leaving in a week...): <BR> <BR>can versailles and chartres be done in a day? we plan on getting to one as early in the morning as possible and then taking the train to continue to the other. <BR> <BR>now i think that versailles doesn't open before 9am so i think we will go to chartres early in the morning and hit versailles on the way back. <BR> <BR>is there an easy train line that goes directly from chartres to versailles and vice versa? <BR> <BR>thank you and eagerly waiting, <BR> <BR>daniel

My last information was that the train to Chartres leaves from Gare Montparnasse, some of those trains stop at Maintenon and Rambouillet, but not at Versailles as far as I know. You'll have to check with the rail people. <BR>The way most people go to Versailles from Paris is on the RER, the suburban train system, to the Versailles Rive Gauche stop, which is closest to the chateau. <BR>French rail trains to leaving from Gare Montparnasse or Gare St Lazare <BR>do have stops at Versailles, but these stops are closer to the Trianons and farther from the chateau. I dont know if Chartres and Versailles are on the same train line. <BR>For your information, Cityrama and Paris Vision offer full and half day trips to Chartres and Versailles, including a combined trip that includes both places in one day. Perhaps that's your best bet. <BR>

My last information was that the train to Chartres leaves from Gare Montparnasse, some of those trains stop at Maintenon and Rambouillet, but not at Versailles as far as I know. You'll have to check with the rail people. <BR>The way most people go to Versailles from Paris is on the RER, the suburban train system, to the Versailles Rive Gauche stop, which is closest to the chateau. <BR>French rail trains leaving from Gare Montparnasse or Gare St Lazare <BR>do have stops at Versailles, but these stops are closer to the Trianons and farther from the chateau. I dont know if Chartres and Versailles are on the same train line. <BR>For your information, Cityrama and Paris Vision offer full and half day trips to Chartres and Versailles, including a combined trip that includes both places in one day. Perhaps that's your best bet. <BR>

You can do both in one day from what I have read. I am not sure where the Versailles-Chantiers station is located (maybe the one that Elaine referred to), but you can take trains through this station between Chartres and Versailles. I wouldn't do both in one day though, especially if you are going before the days get long. Allow at least 3 hours for seeing Chartres (if you want to see the town too) and no less than 5 for Versailles. You may wish to consider doing Vesailles first if you do go to both. The gardens open at dawn, so you can see a lot of the outside areas before the chateau opens - a bonus is that there are very few people this time of day). Try to be back at the chateau at least by a little after 9 to get in before the huge lines form. Your feet will likely be quite tired after Versailles and will appreciate the hour train ride to Chartres. You may even consider staying overnight in Chartres.

Hey Dan, <BR> <BR>Thanks for your info. <BR> <BR>Do you know of any good cheap places in Chartres where we can stay overnight? <BR> <BR>Daniel

Dan, I enjoyed the town and cathedral of Chartres very much. The train is a breeze. I stayed at Le Grand Monarque, very old, very formal, but not cheap. It's rated a 4 star and the rooms were very nice, but it's an OLD place with narrow creaky halls. I really liked the medieval atmosphere in Chartres and the old center of town is very small, easy to stroll around. Didn't make it to Versailles because the RR people decided to go on strike.