Chartres is one of those places which you've probably heard of but never quite managed to find the time to visit.
The cathedral is, of course, the principal reason as it's considered to be one of the finest gothic catedrals in France and is listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Historically the town reached it's peak in the 12th century as a centre for intellectual and spiritual teaching with an influence stretching right across medieval Europe. This long history is reflected in many remaining buildings from that period and it's a charming place to spend a bit of time.
The rich history is on display at a number of museums including Musée des Beaux-Arts (fine arts), Le Grenier de l'Histoire Musée (military history), Le Centre International du Vitrail (stained glass), Muséum de sciences naturelles et de la préhistoire (natural history) and the Conservatoire du Machinisme et des Pratiques Agricoles (farming).
At the more modern end of the range, you'll find lots of beauty specialists who together run Festivals of Light and Perfume that are worth going to experience.
The nearest airports are Paris Orly (ORY) at one hour and Tours (TUF) at two hours.
The TGV Atlantique from Paris Montparnasse passes through the town.
