Chartres en lumières 2026: dates, times and tips

The journal

Chartres en lumières illuminates 21 sites across the city every evening, from 11 April 2026 to 3 January 2027. The cathedral is 29.5 km from Les Maisons de Giroudet, or 35 minutes by car.

A city that lights up at nightfall

As daylight fades, Chartres cathedral takes on a new face. The façades fill with colour and begin to tell stories, and the old town becomes a trail of light to follow on foot.

It’s one of the loveliest answers to the question “what to do in Chartres in the evening”. The show is free, and you discover it at your own pace, in whatever order you like.

The 2026 season dates

Season: from 11 April 2026 to 3 January 2027, every evening.
Start: at nightfall. The time therefore changes with the seasons; the official calendar gives the start time for each evening.
End: until 1 am up to 24 October 2026, then until 11 pm from 25 October 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Christmas: from late November, a dozen sites take on Christmas colours.

The dates of the 2027 season are not yet known as we write: check them on the official website before booking.

Our tips for making the most of it

Start with the cathedral. It’s the heart of the trail and the easiest landmark. From there, branch out to the other sites, following the map available on the official website.

Think about the app. A free “Chartres en lumières” app helps you find the sites: check that it’s available before you go.

Take your time. The trail is done on foot, at a stroll, and nothing says you have to see it all in one evening. Wear good shoes: the streets of the old town are cobbled and sloping.

Choose your season. In summer, night falls late: have dinner on a terrace first, then set off for a wander. In autumn and winter, the illuminations begin early, so you can see them before dinner and head back in good time.

Try the little train. From April to January, the Petit Chart’train tours the town centre in the evening. A pleasant option with children or tired legs.

Wrap up warm. Even in September, you stand still for a long time in front of a façade. A scarf won’t go amiss.

A day in Chartres, a night in the countryside

To turn it into a proper weekend, start with Chartres by day. In the morning, visit the cathedral and its stained glass. In the afternoon, the Maison Picassiette, a house covered entirely in mosaics of broken crockery, 28 minutes from our houses.

Then wait for nightfall and the illuminations, and take the road back to Écrosnes. Thirty-five minutes later, the silence of the plain replaces the crowds, the sky fills with stars and the bed is made.

Where to stay for Chartres en lumières

Les Maisons de Giroudet offer three ways to stay, in an 18th-century farmstead:

Maison Raphaël, for 4: two suites, and a sauna open all year round to warm up after an autumn evening.
Maison Auguste, for 6: a large family kitchen and a private garden.
Villa Marceau, for 10: both houses together, for coming with family or friends.

Check-in is self-service, from 5 pm, with a key box. Check-out is at 11 am, which leaves time for a lie-in after a late evening.

And the next day

Stay in the area. The château de Maintenon is 25 minutes away, the château de Rambouillet 20 minutes. Cycling fans can ride to Chartres from Maintenon on the Véloscénie, about 20 km of quiet lanes and cycle paths.

Booking direct on our website costs 14% less than on Airbnb or Booking.