I am beginning to work on my itinerary for my February visit (I will be there Feb 1-7). I am planning to day-trip to Chartres and understand that I can take a train from Gare Montparnasse. I checked online (raileurope.com) to see what kind of schedules there were and it seems the trains run frequently to/from even in February. I have a couple questions:
- Would I be better to purchase my ticket online before arriving in Paris, or simply purchase it the day of travel at the train station? I am thinking the day of travel would be fine since it is perhaps not going to be terribly crowded in February... (I am thinking of going either Monday or Tuesday when the museums are closed).
- Also, I am unclear on this - can you purchase a round-trip ticket but return on whichever train (time) you choose rather than having to choose a return time?
- Is there anything else in Chartes that anyone would suggest seeing or doing? I was planning to get there mid-morning, wander a bit, catch the 12 Noon tour then have lunch. And then either wandering around more if there%26#39;s something more to see (and the weather isn%26#39;t horrible) or just grabbing the next train back (which is why I asked about the ticket flexibility).
All help and tips appreciated :--) - Thanks - BJL
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%26gt;%26gt; - Would I be better to purchase my ticket online before arriving in Paris, or simply purchase it the day of travel at the train station? I am thinking the day of travel would be fine since it is perhaps not going to be terribly crowded in February... (I am thinking of going either Monday or Tuesday when the museums are closed). %26lt;
Just purchase it the day you travel. You can%26#39;t book on these trains, anyway, and there are no Prem%26#39;s fares or other advance booking discounts.
If you leave Monday before 10am, the fare will be slightly higher (peak times for Corail/TER trains are Fri. afternoon, Sun. afternoon and Mon. morning).
%26gt;%26gt; - Also, I am unclear on this - can you purchase a round-trip ticket but return on whichever train (time) you choose rather than having to choose a return time? %26lt;%26lt;
Yes, you can. That%26#39;s the advantage of regular Corail/TER trains : no booking, no hassle. Your ticket is valid 2 months from the purchase date.
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As noted, no reservations are required for these regional trains and there%26#39;s no advantage or penalty for simply purchasing your ticket at the station on the day of travel....and a round-trip ticket will be good for ALL trains for your day of travel...and beyond. We enjoyed our first experience of Chartres so much, that on our way back to the station for a train back to Paris, we stopped into a small hotel for a drink...and wound up making dinner reservations for a favorite restaurant that evening an booking a room for the night at the hotel....taking the train back to Paris the following day on the same return ticket.
February is an %26#39;..iffy..%26#39; month for %26#39;..regularity..%26#39; of the tours of Chatres cathedral offered by Malcolm Miller. He often travels in winter on speaking engagements....and he is more likely to be a %26#39;..no show..%26#39; on a chill, dreary winter day if there are few tourists waiting for one of his tours (this to prepare you for possible disappointment). BUT...if Mr. Miller is doing his tours, they are worth the price of both the train fare and the cost of the tour. His regular schedule is 12:00 %26amp; 14:45 (2:45 PM) during most of the year...but I recall hearing of a change in schedule to one tour per day for this winter...check at the Gift Shop at the cathedral or e-mail Mr. Miller for an up-date
diocese-chartres.com/cathedrale/…guieng.htm
The Chartres Tourist Information office is located just to the left of the cathedral and offers a good, free,self-guided walking tour of the old / cathedral quarter of the city. If the labyrinth inside the cathedral is covered with chairs (it may be one of the most beautiful buildings even constructed by man...but for local residents, it%26#39;s stil just their parish church), there is another labaryinth (albeit not quite the same) located in the gardens just behind the cathedral.
The RailEurope site usually generates reasonably accurate train schedules and fares....but for the most up-to-date train schedules and fares, use the SNCF--French National Railways--web site--
SNCF--
www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/_SvHomePage…
For more CHARTRES Info--
http://www.ville-chartres.fr
www.chartres-tourisme.com/index1024.php
http://www.chartres.com/
http://www.chartres-csm.org/
http://www.lemoulindeponceau.fr/
http://www.lavieillemaison.fr.st/
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Thanks, superheterodyne and KDKSAIL, all info MUCH appreciated!
I had read about Mr. Miller%26#39;s tours and am in hopes that I get lucky and he%26#39;s there, but I had also read that visiting in the winter made this iffy. This being my 5th trip to Paris, I kind of wanted to take a little day trip outside the city - and I know February is not the most ideal month to do this...but all the same :-)
On that note - I%26#39;ll keep loking at other day trips here on the forum before I make a decision. I%26#39;ve only been to Versaille from Paris (and to Brussel %26amp; Brugge, but they weren%26#39;t day trips).
Anyone%26#39;s thoughts about %26quot;good-for-February%26quot;....?
Thanks again!
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One of our favorite restaurants in Chartres is Le MOULIN de PONCEAU-- http://www.lemoulindeponceau.fr/ (what ya%26#39; see, is what ya%26#39; get...except for leaves on trees in February). It is located down at the bottom of the steep hill (think mountain goat steep), in the old quarter of the city, below the cathedral, on the banks of the old Eure River (on rue de la Tanneries at Pont de Minimes). The location is surrounded by painstakingly and lovingly restored 13th 14th %26amp; 15th century homes. The restaurant itself is a converted mill on the banks of the river, with wonderful views of the backs of the homes on the river (you can easily imagine a resident of the by-gone past, coming out to draw water or do laundry in the river) The food is wonderful, service excellent and the LOCATION and ambiance simply cannot be beat for a leisurely luncheon.
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OK, KDK - I am sold! :-) Sounds perfectly lovely - I can%26#39;t wait!
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Hi BJL,
You%26#39;ve already received some very informative responses. I just came back.I bought my train ticket the same day with no problem. You can check out the schedules online but you can also get a printed schedule at the information booth. I liked the one that they gave me because it also showed the other stops along the way. Even without Malcolm%26#39;s tour the cathedral and town are worth visiting. I actually was looking forward to Malcolm%26#39;s tour and had checked ahead of time to find out that only the 12pm tour would be given. He did show up, but there weren%26#39;t 12 people there for the tour. He said he would do it with 6 or 7 people minimum even though it was supposed to be a 12 person minimum. Unfortunately there were not even 6 or 7. Oh well an excuse to go again.
I%26#39;m not sure if you like shopping but there are quite a few cute shops to check out too. I hope you have a great trip!
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Thanks, Txbella - I do like shopping - especially in cute shops :-) I hope that Mr. Miller is in attendance and a tour available, but if not, c%26#39;est la vie...as you say - a reason to return. I have not traveled outside of Paris yet during my journeys there, and am looking forward to a new adventure!
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In addition to visiting the cathedral, make time to see its crypt. Tickets are available at the gift shop, outside and at the right near the apse. There are periodic tours of the underground area--very intereting. Be sure to take binoculars with you to see the stained-glass windows in the cathedral.
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Not to knock Mr. Miller%26#39;s tours in any way, but you might read up on the cathedral a little, then tour it yourself. Perhaps you%26#39;ll have a better experience.
Mr. Miller is very knowledgeable and a compelling speaker but the cathedral will put itself across to you unaided.
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Roughly how much would a return ticket on the train cost from Gare Montparnasse to Chartres?
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