Walking In and Around Chartres

 

The Rev. Jill K H Geoffrion, Ph.D., www.jillgeoffrion.com
Portrait © Marilyn Larsen 877-826-2462

Eure River Walk

©Jill K H Geoffrion

It is wonderful to walk along the banks of the Eure River. There are picturesque spots to walk in town as well as out into the country. The bridges are lit in the evenings during Tourist Season. For a longer walk, head for the Parc des Bords de l'Eure. You can walk along the river all the way to Le Coudray. If you get that far, there is a wonderful bakery in the parking lot across from the Intermarché (next to the gas station). If you find something for a "picnic", head across the street to the park (behind the Marie (Town Hall)) where the path along the Eure continues.

© Jill K H Geoffrion. Please email Jill for permission to copy.

 

Le Coudray, Parc du Gord

There is a wonderful park in Le Coudray which follows the Eure. You can get there by walking through Chartres of by following the walk along the Eure. The Park is across the street from the Intermarché grocery store. It is open from 8h00 to 19h00 from April through September and from 8h00 to 18h00 from October through March. There are public restrooms on the side of the main building.

 

Lèves (Town next to Chartres)

You can walk close to the river (past the Jardin d'Horticulture on Avenue dAligre, onto the Route des Grand Près) by the tennis courts) which turns into Chemin des Boissières) all the way to Lèves where you will find two wonderful things to do. The first is to visit the Ateliers Loire. The second is to visit the Saint-Lazare (St. Lazarus) Church with incredible modern stain glass windows designed in 1956 by Gabriel Loire.

If you are feeling adventuresome, from the Atelier Loire turn right (road over the railroad track) and then turn right again on Rue d'Ouarville to Chemin de Ouarville which wil head back toward Chartres. It's absolutely beautiful, but due to new construction (2007) you may need to take some precarious paths. Be sure to head towards Chartres, not Champol.