Chartres, Medieval cathedral city in Centre-Val de Loire, France
Chartres is a city in Eure-et-Loir, Centre-Val de Loire, France, spread along the banks of the Eure River and dominated by a large cathedral. The lower town sits along the water with old mills and bridges, while the upper town rests on a hill and holds tight lanes with stone houses from different centuries.
The city was an important pilgrimage site during the Middle Ages because the cathedral housed a relic venerated as the veil of the Virgin Mary. During the Hundred Years War it changed hands several times between French and English control before finally remaining with France.
The city takes its name from a Gallic tribe called the Carnutes, who held their main gathering place here. Today the old town shows many half-timbered houses with slanted beams and cobblestone lanes that wind around the cathedral.
The best overview of the city comes from the terrace behind the cathedral or from the riverside paths along the Eure. The old town is easy to explore on foot, and many streets are closed to cars or very narrow.
An underground tunnel connects the upper town with the lower town and was originally used as a transport route. Today you can walk through it and see old cellars and vaults along the way.
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