Chartres Labyrinth Pilgrimage

The Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth

This 6-day add-on tour will visit the Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth, and although this will not be a birding tour, all the birds we see will be identified.  

• Travel Dates:
• This is an add-on tour for any one of our France trips
• Group Size:  4 people
• Trip Length: 6 days
• Rates: Rate per person = $2,325 (based on double occupancy), an extra $785 for single occupancy
• Rates include: Transfer and travel within France, lodging, breakfast, lunch, dinner, scheduled group tours, entrance fees, and basic travel insurance.
• Not included: International airfare, customs & immigration fees and visas, alcohol, trip cancellation insurance.
• Adventure level:  Easy, please check the “Welcome” page for definition
• Reservations:  To reserve a spot on the trip, a $800 non-refundable deposit is due and full payment is due 6-months prior to departure.

Basic Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival day
Flights are usually overnight with early morning arrival at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG) in Paris.  You will be met at the airport and shuttled to the hotel, where we will be staying for 1-night at the Hotel Paix Republique. 

Day 2: Travel to Chartres
From Chartres it takes two trains and 2.5 hours to get to the historic village of Chartres, France, where will spend 3-nights at the Hôtel des Poèmes de Chartres.  After we check into our hotel, a leisurely afternoon of getting to know the area. Chartres is full of historic sites going back to the middle ages, as well has numerous museum: Chartres Tourism

Day 3: Chartres Cathedral and the Labyrinth
In the heart of Chartres sits Our Lady of Chartres Cathedral.  The current cathedral was constructed between the years 1194 and 1220. Beneath its foundation sit several earlier cathedrals starting from the 4th century. It is considered one of the best preserved and culturally significant cathedrals in Europe and became a UNESCO world heritage site in 1979.  Stained glass from the 12th century has been well preserved.  The cathedral attracts both tourists, who come to see the amazing architecture, as well as Christian pilgrims who come to view the Sancta Camisa, which is believed to have been worn by Mary at the time of Christ's birth. Many people simply come to be in awe of the original stained glass.  It really is a sight to see.  The Chartres cathedral is also famous for its labyrinth. A religious labyrinth symbolizes a path to salvation, where there is only one path to the end.  Most early gothic churches contained a labyrinth to symbolize the one path to salvation, but over time most cathedrals have removed them.  At Chartres cathedral, you can still walk the labyrinth, and many people come to just to do that.  

Day 4: Chartres Cathedral and the Labyrinth
After a day of visiting the historic sites of Chartres, we will take time on this day to visit the surrounding countryside for beautiful walks in the local nature preserves.  Chartres also has a wonderful art museum, and the Museum of Art Brut. Chartres also has a historic castle, Maintenon Castle, we will visit. 

Day 5: Travel to Paris
We will be taking the train, 2.5 hours, back to Paris where we will be staying for 1-night at the Hotel Paix Republique. 

Day 6: Departure day
There will be a shuttle to the airport.