Chartres!!!!
Carson making himself comfortable on the train ride to Chartres. He's a real Parisien.

The Cathedral, Chartres. Very beautiful, and detailed. There are thousands of statues/engravings on this cathedral. It also contains some of the oldest stain glass windows.

 It's a public library outside. You take a book and switch it out for another one. Thought it was cool.

 Our beloved  boys, Carson and Luke. For three hours we all explored the city. It was awesome.

 Traffic cones here are chess pieces!!!!!! Great idea. :)

 Found this beautiful garden behind the cathedral.

 View of an old church from the garden. This is in the older part of the city. Some of these building date back to middle ages. There was a huge fire in the 12 century that destroyed most of Chartres, so most of the original city dates from at least then.

Just monkeying around. My hands were not happy. FYI the wall is not climber friendly. I see what you did there architects. Smart move.


















 The city is right by a river. Beautiful view of a  awesome looking bridge. On the right is what used to be the town well. Its connected to the old church from the previous photo.

A view of the old church up close. It dates back to roman times.

 Luke and Maddie

 

 Sites in the city.

 
This fort survived until a Nazi invasion destroyed it during WWII. So sad to make it for hundreds of years to be destroyed like that.

  I had to touch some of the ruins. I was just a little excited. Maddie was laughing at me.

 

 Chartres is a beautiful city. I love the feel of it; very calm, you can walk in the streets without fear of dying or feeling rushed, there are multiple churches and the inner city by the river is awesome, and very pretty. Historical place.

 

 Old donkey stable or Inn I think. It wasn't quite clear. There was a picture of a donkey. :)

                                                     

Old convent now used for a high school next to the church.

                                                                                                           

These are used to hold back the shutters. Fancy right?

 

 Old church we found called St Pierre.

 
Its a beautiful church. It smelled old. Like dirt really. From the 12 century I think. Some of it is from earlier than that. The middle picture shows this.  Chartres known for its glass windows dating back to the middle ages. They really are quite stunning.

 

 

 
 
Found this other old church, similar to the other one, but more colorful. Forget what this one was called.  Love it!

Don't know what this monument is for. We were running late to our tour and couldn't stop, but I think it's for soldiers.  Thought it was cool.

  Ancient City hall

 
We took a guided tour of parts of the Cathedral Chartres built originally in the first century, but was destroyed or rebuilt four times, the final time in the 13th century. Its now being cleaned up. Our tour guide was 82 years old and from England. I liked him. He was a cute old man with a love of Chartres. He told us about four different window sets, a brief general history and to certain wall. We've seen a lot of churches since coming to France. It was cool to be able to actually understand what was on the windows and walls rather than guessing.

 

 
We got a guided tour of the crypt under the cathedral as well. This well has the first two Christian converts murdered and thrown into it. I don't think i'd want to drink from it after that. Just saying.  

Left: Chartres in the rain. Right: Paris in the rain. Some Asian looking monument by the Eiffel tower.

Spent some time at the Eiffel tower because we wanted to see it light up, which didn't happen until nine pm. Got there a little early so we had fun taking pictures and enjoying the rain. It got a bit cold though. Great day today.