Europe is known for Gothic style cathedrals as when in doubt one must flock for a spiritual renewal…read moreand pilgrimage. La Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres (Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres) resides in the town of Chartres, the heart of the Beauce region, which enlists in UNESCO World Heritage List. Here a shroud veil said to be worn by the Virgin Mary. The famous labyrinth is visibly seen in the main hall. The monumental screen around the choir is plastered with statutes, which I found rather frightening for its dark Gothic architecture. High cathedral arch ceilings, and abbey stone arch doorways. Victor Hugo would be cultivate the gothic architecture experience. Upon departure from Chartres, in a past life, my former love and I leave not with only memories of what physically seen but the feeling of being in a place of great spirituality and healing. Visitors flock to La Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres for a pilgrimage at free admission. It was here where my frustration from life's daily deal of bedlam are released and highly recommend a visit.

This past weekend on a Saturday, we were lucky enough to have a car at our disposal so we decided…read moreto take a road trip outside of Paris. We decided to go see Vaux Le Vicomte at night lit by candles and see Chartres by day. What a fabulous idea! Driving up to Chartre, the site of the church in the distance is breath taking and exciting. We actually stopped at a panoramic view across from the church in order to take pictures (keep an eye out for the signs and see my pic). We arrived in Chartre at around 3 pm and parked on Boulevard du Maréchal Foch which is below the old city (pay parking underneath trees and besides a b -there are pay stations every several meters). We walked over the bridge (Pont Bouju) into one of the most beautiful villages I have seen in Europe. And of course we arrived very hungry. So as we went uphill towards the church, we kept an eye out for a restaurant. There was nothing open or if they were open the kitchen was closed. That is until we reached the church square and found that all the restaurants there were open and serving. Check out my review for Café Serpente. They were setting up for a music festival and finishing a stage. The church itself is an amazing work of art. From the flying buttresses, gargoyles, and stone work on the exterior to the labyrinth, the stained glass windows, and Catholic iconography you can spend hours taking it all in and still only see a fraction of its beauty. You might consider getting a tour guide from next to the church to explain more of important points. Also, take some time to walk around the grounds of the church where you will find the Fine Arts museum and a spectacular view of the surrounding area including the panoramic view of the church where I took the picture. When looking up more info about Charte, I came across this event in September: http://www.chartresenlumieres.com/en/chartres-en-lumieres.html I will definitely be going back for that!

I came here around sunrise on a Monday in September. The view was impeccable. There was service…read moregoing on so I found it quite rude to take interior pictures. The exterior was beautiful of course. In front of the basilica, there is a great viewpoint of Paris. I had not seen the side entrance, but the front entrance was pretty discreet. This was a free basilica with additional paid viewing points.

Sacré-Cœur rewards the climb with one of those views that make Paris seem almost impossibly…read morebeautiful. Walking up through Montmartre is good exercise in its own right, with the staircases near the top providing a wonderfully direct final approach as the white basilica rises above you. The surrounding neighborhood is beyond charming, and reaching the summit feels like a fitting culmination of exploring one of the city's most distinctive quarters. Once there, the sweeping view across Paris is spectacular, particularly from the broad steps beneath the basilica. The Romano-Byzantine architecture is striking up close, while the enormous gold mosaic inside gives you another reason to step away from the panorama and enter the church. Few places capture Paris quite so completely: beautiful architecture, a lively neighborhood, and that extraordinary city unfolding beneath you.

Beautiful stained glass, each window represents a different book of the Bible. I recommend buying…read moretix online ahead of time & choosing the first time slot & getting in line 20min earlier. Security takes awhile, go straight upstairs to the main stained glass room before everyone gets there. They have combo tix with Conciergerie & under 18 is free. We spent about 20-30min here. First Sunday of the month is free Jan-March & Nov-Dec.

Quality/Quantity - Book your tickets EARLY!! Sells out often…read moreand quickly. See pictures. Famous, known for the stained glass windows!! See their website! Ambiance - See their website; I do not have the skills to take photos that will be better than theirs. Service - Fairly organized. Mostly self service other than entering. Price - 22 Euros, $25.50US per person. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success.