The historic districts

Listed as one of the leading preserved sectors, the town covers 60 hectares and stretches down from the Cathedral (upper town) to the banks of the Eure (lower town).

Down below, the cobbled-stones of the rue des Ecuyers (the street of the Equeries) are lined with half-timbered houses, one of which is flanked by the remarkable 16th century Escalier de la Reine Berthe (the Queen Bertha Stairway). The street is lit up by lanterns suspended on chains and plunges the visitor back into the medieval era. On the other side of the Cathedral, at N° 29, rue Chantault, stands the oldest house in Chartres, which dates back to the 12th century. Steep lanes and stairways, known as ‘tertres’, lead the visitor down to the lower town, where the names of the streets act as a reminder of the ancient tradecrafts practised in Chartres during the Middle Ages.

The Saint-Nicolas ‘Tertre’ was the passageway used by the water-carriers.

Hump-backed bridges, public wash-houses and water-mills are dotted along the walking route that follows the banks of the Eure.

This specially created footpath offers exceptional views of the upper town. The old town, located in the pedestrian section and buzzing with shops and markets, has retained the lively and picturesque charm of its medieval past.

Maison du Saumon

One of the most beautiful houses in Chartres can be found in the Place de la Poissonnerie, a mere stone’s throw from the Cathedral. It is known as the Maison du Saumon (also referred to as Maison de la Truie-qui-file - the House of the Spinning Sow). It was built at the beginning of the 16th century and is embellished with wooden sculptures.