Can someone please advise about the most common public transport way to get from Paris Montparnasse to Chartres? Is it possible to do a stopover in Versailles along the way?
And where does one buy tickets?
Many thanks in advance—
Posted by
Chicago
8902 posts
I takes about an hour by train from Gare Montparnasse and the Chartres station is an easy walk to the Cathedral.
It does pass through Versailles Chantiers - the station furthest from the Chateau but I don't know if you can hop on and off on the same ticket. You could take the RER C to Versailles Rive Gauche for the Chateau and then go to the Chantier station and book your ticket to Chartres from there.
You can buy tickets on line and just show them on your phone which is what we did last year on an overnight to Chartres from Paris. It is important to stay over to see the illuminations as the last train to Paris is too early for that.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
1787 posts
Trying to see both Versailles and Chartres in one day is a pretty big do. Versailles is huge, and usually there is a long line to get through security. It is an all-day visit to see both the chateau and the gardens/fountains. Tickets for Versailles are best bought ahead of time online, with a reserved entry time. Enter "Versailles visit" in the search box above and filter for the forum, and one year or less. You will find lots of details about visiting there. Chartres cathedral doesn't need tickets or reserved times. The light show in the evening, I don't know, having never seen it.
Bonne chance!
Posted by
Chicago
8902 posts
It would be a ridiculous day trip to do both -- but you could go to Versailles then head for Chantier station and go to Chartres for dinner and the illuminations and spend the night.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
15309 posts
I also recommend downloading the SNCF-Connect app to your phone and purchasing your ticket that way. Very easily done and your ticket is right there on your phone. You would need to have data to purchase your ticket unless you used the wifi at Gare Montparnasse or at your hotel.
To me Versailles takes a full day to do the palace and the gardens. I would not try to crunch it in to a trip to Chartres. Are you doing a Rick Steves tour that starts in Chartres? Are you arriving the day ahead?
You also got some replies to your December thread with a similar question but with some specifics about luggage storage at either Versailles train station if that was also a factor.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/paris-versailles-chartres