Trains from Paris to Chartres

Yes, I did it last fall and it was terrific. You will depart from Gare Montparnasse and if you go to the SNCF website you will see the schedule. Don't let it default to RailEurope. The trains leave at either 6 or 9 after the hour. The ones that leave at 9 after take 15 minutes longer, so obviously have a few more stops. You can buy your ticket the morning of but you may encounter a line, so it's best to go a day or 2 ahead and purchase. You don't need to purchase your ticket from home ahead of time.

Enjoy the Cathedral! Try to make it for the Malcolm Miller talk on the stained glass windows. It is worth the money.

I used to take this route at least two times a week when I lived in Chartres. It's a very easy trip. I do, however, recommend the city of Maintenon (a few stops before Chartres) because they have an amazing chateau. It's a bit of a walk to get there, but it's spectacular,

Also, in Chartres, please don't forget to take the path behind the cathedral down to the River Eure . There's a fabulous restaurant on the river called LE MOULIN DE PONCEAU. I've spent many happy gastronomic hours lunching there.

I did this last May. It was on a Sunday and I took the 11:05, non-stop to Chartres. There were earlier ones at 900am and 700am, and several others with a couple of stops. The non stop trains were 54 minutes, the others were 1:15 hours.

You'll need to check to see if there are schedule changes. And yes as suggetsed, you can buy your ticket in advance. There are yellow ticket machines but I used the counter with person.

I did it the same day as travel but I arrived at 1000am. The lines were long. The man at the counter spoke little English. I already had it written on an index card to be sure I'd get the right ticket and time.
The station is upstairs and not at street level. The escalator was broken. I just had my tote bag and carry on suitcase so it was nothing.

I walked to the front of the train away from the crowds as I wanted to stash my suitcase on the luggage rack and sit where I could always see it. I always bring a water and a snack, prepared for anything.

Are you going on the Loire Valley South of France tour? That what I was doing. What an interesting and fun tour it was. PM me if you have any questions. Wnjoy!

DIane

Apologize as I see there were some typos in my post.

We love Chartres and have been from Paris a couple of times. I heartily endorse Alexander's restaurant suggestion -- we sort of stumbled onto it and had lovely lunch overlooking the small stream. Moulin Ponceau. one goes down the hill away from the Cathedral, crosses the little river and walks down the bank to the left for a bit.

If Malcolm Miller is doing his lectures when you are there definitely sign up -- one of the highpoints of the trip and at his age, it is a resource that will not be there indefinitely.