What to do · Chartres
Chartres en lumières, the city lit up at night
Information
- Price
- Free
- Duration
- 1 h 30
- Season
- Every night from April to January, at dusk
- Who it's for
- Families and couples
- With a dog
- On a lead, in the streets
Every night from April to January, at nightfall, around twenty buildings in Chartres are lit up with projections and music, starting with the façade of the cathedral. It is free and done on foot with the map handed out by the tourist office. The idea was born from the Festival of Light in 2003 and since 2004 it has been the city's great night-time attraction.
How to see it
Start at the cathedral and follow the map. There are guided tours from the tourist office and rides on a little tourist train to see it without walking. In winter it gets dark early, which lets you see it and be back in Paris by train at a reasonable hour; in summer, it starts very late. One year in two, in September, the Festival of Light fills the city with street shows.
Tips
- On a day trip From November to January, with the early dusk, you can see the lights and catch a train back to Paris in mid-evening.
Frequently asked questions
When is Chartres en lumières?
Every night from April to January, from dusk.
Do I have to pay?
No, it is free and done on foot.
With young childrenAs a familyWith teenagersWith a dog
