Chartres or Fontainebleau?

Fontainebleau is a chateau and Chartres is famous for it's cathedral and stained glass windows. The town of Chartres may be more interesting to explore. Both are easy to get to from Paris. Do a little research and go to the one that seems more interesting to you.

I haven't been to Chartres, but I highly recommend Fontainebleau. The castle and grounds are so beautiful, full of rich history. The town is interesting, too. We were there on a Sunday and there is a market set up right outside the castle gates. Lots of good little places to eat as well.

I'm guessing you would be traveling by train or such, but if you do happen to have a car, drive a few miles from Fontainebleau and visit Moret sur Loing as well. It is a wonderful French village that I'm sure hasn't changed much in hundreds of years. Lots of stone houses and buildings. The river is lovely and nice to walk along or sit at a little café for a meal or a drink.

Moret sur Loing can also be visited from Paris by train and is quite special. You can see our trip done on a gloomy November day in my photo journal in the Day trips from Paris section. www.janettravels.wordpress.com. It was a wonderful place to visit and would be even more fun in summer when you could do a boat trip on the river.

I'd pick Chartres over Fontainebleau because of the Cathedral -- but both are great trips. If you go to Chartres, be sure to join the Malcolm Miller 'tour' (lecture on stained glass). It is wonderful and given his age, not a resource that will be there forever.

I've been to both (lived in Fountainbleau for about a year), and both are great. However I think Chartres is more spectacular, and the surrounding town more quaint.

Have visited both and vote for Chartres: stunning and memorable!

Thank you all for your replies. I was leaning to Chartres in the beginning and all the nice things said about Chartres and the town has just validated my first thought!

Hi,

Ideally, see both for all the reasons mentioned above. But, if it has to be only one due to time, I vote for Fontanebleau, all the more so if you're interested in Napoleon. At the chateau Fontanebleau see where his farewell to the Guard took place, where he signed his first abdication, etc. About a 20 mins walk or so from the chateau is the Napoleonic Museum.

I have to agree with Fred... I liked Fontainebleau much more, but that's because Cathedral's don't do much for me and chateaux do. I am fascinated and enthralled by all the history that happened at Fontainebleau and thought the place itself was wonderful.

I do agree about the town of Chartres though, it's charming.

Chartres all the way. It's a charming town that can be explored in a day. It's my favorite city in France. You arrive at the train station and everything is quite close. You see the cathedral, walk down the main street to Place des Epars. There are so many great places to eat, and there's nothing like sipping a drink next to one of France's grandest cathedrals. There is also a great art museum next to the cathedral and a stain glass window as well. For a more quirky visit, visit La Maison. Picassiette.

My vote is for Chartres. Easy train ride and then walk to the town from the station. Amazing cathedral and I have heard Malcolm Miller twice and truly found that special. He focuses on one stain glass window and section of the church. I also like the town. It might come down to if you are churched out or not after Paris or if you have already done chateaus in the Loire Valley or gone to Versailles.