Chartres - a Day Trip out of Paris

May 24, 2019 — Day 15 (Friday)

We took bus #91 to Gare Montparnasse where we got in line to buy tickets to Chartres. Finally got our tickets and went out to the hall to wait for our track to be displayed. The track number came up and we hurried down, composted our tickets and found seats. It was a very smooth, quiet trip with stops at Versailles-Chantier, Rambouillet, Épernon and Chartres. It was nice to get out in the countryside for a little break.

It’s an easy walk from the Chartres train station up to the Cathedral. You just follow the church spires. I got outside photos on a perfect day and then we went in and the sun was lighting the stained glass windows. Wow! It was Friday so lots of people were walking the labyrinth. They’ve been cleaning the choir screen and it’s nearly all done. A small part was under renovation and another small part was still a very dirty white.

Chartres Cathedral is a magic place. The floor fascinates me. I feel like I'm looking at history and always wonder how many feet have trod the stones before me.

We then set off in search of lunch and after checking nearly every menu in Chartres, we walked back to Le Café des Arts and were seated. We both ordered the daily special of pintade (guinea hen) and it was fabulous. We each got two full legs and thighs, cider gravy, mashed potatoes and roasted apple slices . . . great combination. For dessert we both had the CDA (Café des Arts) vanilla and caramel ice cream with caramel sauce and whipped cream . . . very sweet.

After lunch we waddled over to the International Stained Glass Centre housed in the Loëns Tithe Barn. We went through the whole thing including the incredible Gothic cellar. All the stained glass is backlit and eye level so easy to view. I've wanted to visit this museum for years so it was a real thrill. [Centre international du vitrail, 5 Rue du Cardinal Pie, 28000 Chartres; tel: +33 (0)2 3721 6572; International Stained Glass Museum web site

Walked back to the cathedral and turned left into the gardens to visit the Beaux Arts Museum. It is free and just as well because the collection is sparse and the building in poor repair. We sat out in the garden for a while and then returned to the Cathedral for one last visit before running for our train. It was waiting on the tracks so we hopped on and claimed our seats. An hour and several stops later we were back in Paris. [Beaux Arts Museum, 29 Cloître Notre Dame, Chartres; tel: +33 (0)2 3790 4580; Chartres Beaux Arts Museum Web Site]

Finding our bus stop was an adventure but we finally sorted it out and got on our bus. Two respectable-looking women opened the back door and jumped in without validating their tickets (if they even had tickets). About three stops later, Security arrived to check tickets. The two women were caught and so were a few other people. RATP seems to be cracking down. We’ve had our tickets checked in the Metro hallways several times and now on the bus.

Arrived home to discover there had been a package bomb in Lyon today and eight people were injured. They are looking for the bomber. Crazy times . . .