Discover Eure-et-Loir
Gothic masterpieces, royal châteaux, and the unhurried charm of authentic France — just one hour from Paris
About Eure-et-Loir
A Gothic Masterpiece at the Crossroads
Chartres Cathedral, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, is one of the finest examples of French High Gothic architecture. Its 176 stained-glass windows — covering 2,600 square metres — form the world's largest surviving medieval glass collection, celebrated for the intense 'Chartres blue' that has captivated visitors for eight centuries. The 13th-century labyrinth carved into the nave floor still invites contemplative walks, while the Veil of the Virgin, venerated since the 9th century, continues to draw pilgrims.
Royal Châteaux and Hidden Fortresses
Château de Maintenon, with Le Nôtre-designed gardens and the dramatic ruins of Vauban's unfinished aqueduct, tells the story of Louis XIV's secret wife. Château d'Anet, built for Diane de Poitiers by Henri II, is a Renaissance jewel. Perched sixty metres above the Loir, Château de Châteaudun blends medieval, Gothic, and Renaissance styles — a fortress of the companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc, yet far from the crowds of the Loire Valley.
Two Landscapes, One Department
The Beauce plain stretches to the horizon in every direction — vast skies, golden wheat fields, and the cathedral spires rising like a ship from a flat sea. To the west, the Perche Regional Nature Park offers a different France entirely: forested hills, ancient manor houses, quiet ponds, and over 3,000 kilometres of marked trails for hiking, cycling, and horse riding. The Loir Valley in the south adds riverside charm with castles, gardens, and canoe routes.
Literary Pilgrimage and Cultural Treasures
Marcel Proust spent childhood summers in Illiers, which he immortalised as 'Combray' in In Search of Lost Time. Today the village bears the official name Illiers-Combray, and the Musée Marcel Proust preserves the house where the famous madeleine memory was born. In Chartres, the extraordinary Maison Picassiette — a house entirely covered in broken-china mosaic — stands as one of France's most remarkable outsider art sites.
A Gothic Masterpiece at the Crossroads
Chartres Cathedral, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, is one of the finest examples of French High Gothic architecture. Its 176 stained-glass windows — covering 2,600 square metres — form the world's largest surviving medieval glass collection, celebrated for the intense 'Chartres blue' that has captivated visitors for eight centuries. The 13th-century labyrinth carved into the nave floor still invites contemplative walks, while the Veil of the Virgin, venerated since the 9th century, continues to draw pilgrims.
Highlights of Eure-et-Loir
- UNESCO-listed Chartres Cathedral with medieval stained glass
- Royal châteaux at Maintenon, Anet, and Châteaudun
- Perche Regional Nature Park with 3,000 km of trails
- Proust's Illiers-Combray and the Musée Marcel Proust
- Free nightly Chartres en Lumières illuminations
- Just one hour by train from Paris Montparnasse
- Authentic local cuisine: Pâté de Chartres and Mentchikoffs
- Vélocénic cycling route from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel
Why Visit Eure-et-Loir
Eure-et-Loir offers an extraordinary mix of world-renowned heritage, diverse landscapes, and authentic French character — all within easy reach of Paris and far from the tourist crowds.
World-Class Gothic Heritage
Chartres Cathedral is among the greatest Gothic buildings on earth. Its 176 medieval stained-glass windows and iconic labyrinth have drawn pilgrims and admirers for over 800 years.
Royal History Without the Crowds
Explore châteaux linked to Louis XIV, Diane de Poitiers, and Joan of Arc's companion Dunois — at a fraction of the visitor numbers of the main Loire Valley circuit.
Nature from Plains to Forests
The vast Beauce cereal plain and the wooded hills of the Perche Regional Nature Park offer two strikingly different landscapes for walking, cycling, and horse riding.
A Living Literary Landscape
Illiers-Combray is hallowed ground for readers of Marcel Proust, while Chartres itself is a canvas of open-air art from Maison Picassiette to the nightly Lumières projections.
Easy Paris Day Trip or Slow Escape
Chartres is just one hour from Paris Montparnasse by train. Come for a day or stay longer to explore the Perche, the Loir Valley, and towns like Bonneval and Nogent-le-Rotrou.
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Dreux: Old Town and Royal Chapel
Dreux
Châteaudun: Castle, Old Town and Caves
Châteaudun
Chartres: Main Attractions
Chartres
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Chartres Cathedral
Chartres Cathedral
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Chartres
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Dreux
7 attractionsFrance
Châteaudun
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