2 days in Chartres, France - 09/23/2023-9/23/2023

Chartres-9/23/2023

Chartres is located in the north central of France and about 50 miles from Paris. Chartres is famous for its Gothic cathedral and all of the magnificent 12th -13th century stained glass- windows.

We are attending Ryan and Thomas's wedding tonight and we have until 2:00pm to walk around the city center. 

We have not seen our friends for 7-8 months so this is a great occasion to get catch up with everyone. We met up with Phu for breakfast at a near by Boulangerie close to our hotel.

So happy to spend some time with Phu.

We just spent a week in Italy eating pastries that were not so great so coming to France and see a real pastries shop is so wonderful.

It is like 7:30 AM and they already have a big selection of pastries.  I am in heaven!

Croissant, pain au chocolat and two cappuccinos for Phu and Hoa

I ordered a tartine (bread, butter, and Jam) and a cappuccino.  Needless to stay the bread was so delicious and we were all surprised that the bread was crunchy even when it is cold.

There is no need to heat the bread as it is prefect as it is.

After breakfast we walked to the city center. 

Place Marceau with a column monument in the center paying tribute to the French General Francois Marceau (1769-1796)

Lots of coffee shops on place Marceau

It was still early in the morning and I am pretty sure all the tables will be full pretty soon.

The city center is a pedestrian area so it is really nice to walk around.

We are now at the open market on rue des Changes, right in the middle of the city center.

The market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays form 7:00am to 1:00pm

Fresh fruits and vegetables.

All the vegetables are grown locally.

A stall selling seafood.

Too early to try out oysters.

Squashes and fruits.

Bell peppers and beans.

So colorful and fresh.

Radishes and fresh bread.

Moving along....

The building ahead is called le Trompe-l'oeil de la Volaille meaning optical illusion on La Valaille (street).

The Fresco is a bout 1.830 square ft. and was designed by the mural painters CiteCreation and represent a filming of a film.

  The fresco in the heart of downtown is paying tribute to General Marceau by integrating him into a movie scene.

The building really stands out in the downtown area.

Place des Halles (town hall)

Sculptures in front of the town hall.

A street in the city center.

Place des Epart is located in the heart of the city.  It is a large square with water works

Mediatheque l'Apostrophe was built from 1923 to 1927 by Raoul Brandon. Renovated in 2007 by Paul Chemtow as the media library L'Apostrophe.

It used to be a post office in Chartres.  The building is in Neo Gothic style and is gandiose and impressive.

Since the Middle Ages, water has played an essential roles in Chartres activities and development.  Every year in June, the water festival (Fete de L'eau) takes place here as one of the biggest attraction in town.

Water works on Place de l'Epart.

NEXT... Lunch at Bistro Racines