Moulin Rouge

The Moulin Rouge Paris, the famous cabaret, was built as a windmill in 1885, and converted to a dance hall in the 1900s. Immortalized by Toulouse-Lautrec posters, and more recently made famous in the aptly titled film, Moulin Rouge, by Baz Luhrmann. Today the Moulin Rouge Paris offers dinner, and several cabaret shows in the evening, featuring the cancan, over 1,000 costumes, and 60 female dancers. For an evening of exciting Paris entertainment, the Moulin Rouge Paris is a top choice.

Paris nightlife is a lively and diverse affair. There are other cabarets in Paris, including the Crazy Horse and Le Lido de Paris. The Crazy Horse is a cabaret venue featuring art of the nude, according to their website. Le Lido de Paris, another historic cabaret, is know for its lavish costumes. In addition to the cabarets, Paris nightlife comes alive in its ever changing scene of dance clubs, and live music venues.

Paris entertainment has always been at the forefront of the world in terms of quality and variety. From opera and jazz, to film and dancing, Paris France is a fanfare for the senses. Paris hosts a multitude of festivals throughout the year, peaking during summer. Two opera houses, the Opéra Bastille and the Palais Garnier host the Opéra National de Paris. There’s also concerts and ballets. There are many rock venues in Paris France, which hosts a large number of international performers. Paris entertainment is also popular for its many dance clubs, nightclubs, and cabaret shows.

Other Paris attractions include world famous museums, dazzling baroque architecture, and extravagant monuments. Visible from much of the city the Eiffel Tower, built for the World’s Exhibition, towers over 1,000 feet above Paris. Previously, the Panthéon was perhaps the most famous monument in Paris France. At a height of 272 feet, the golden domed of the Panthón is an impressive sight. Located in the center of the worlds largest traffic roundabout, the Arc de Triomphe features four carved panels, and stunning views of the city from the top of the monument. On the list of Paris attractions, Notre-Dame cathedral ranks high. Begun in the 12th century, Notre Dame is full of intricate biblical carvings, a giant rose window, and the great bell tolled by the fictional Quasimodo in the Hutchback of Notre Dame.

Paris nightlife is exciting and stylish. With venues all over the city, from the cancan of the Moulin Rouge Pairs, to opera, live music, dance clubs, and theater, Paris France is at the forefront of European cities when it come to thrilling venues. Pick up the entertainment section of an English newspaper, and prepare for an exciting night out.

Mont St Michel

The beautiful region of Normandy France has many sites of interest: the Bayeux Tapestry, Rhone Cathedral, and the D-Day beaches, among others. Of all Normandy’s outstanding sights, Mont St Michel—a UNESCO world heritage site—is the most famous. Its pyramid-like outline has become famous the world over and thousands of tourist flock each year for a Mont St. Michel tour.

Mont St Michel France is situated on a quasi-island on the Normandy coast, near Brittany. At high tide, Mont St Michel is almost entirely separated from the mainland. Only a narrow causeway, constructed in the 1880s preserves a link to the coast. (A bridge to replace the causeway and allow the circulation of tidal waters in the bay is scheduled for completion in 2012.) Beware: the tide comes in quickly—“à la vitesse d'un cheval au galop” (as swiftly as a galloping horse), as Victor Hugo claimed—many tourists have drowned attempting to cross the sandy bay.

Unlike other castles in France, which began as defensive structures (i.e., Carcassonne Castle) or pleasure palaces (i.e., Chenonceau Castle), Mont St Michel had its beginnings as a monastery. There has been a Christian shrine on the site since the 8^th century and the first church was completed in 1144. By the 13^th century, hundreds of Benedictine monks lived in the sturdy structures on Mont St Michel. They held out against the English when most of western France fell during the Hundred Years War.

The graceful Abbey of Mont St Michel that forms the peak of the island’s structures was completed in 1521 after centuries of construction. By the 17^th century, the influence of monasteries was on the wane and by the time of the French Revolution Mont St Michel France was being used as a prison. Like other castles in France, Mont St Michel was falling into disrepair by the late 19^th century. A thorough renovation was begun in 1873. The next few decades saw the construction of the causeway forming a permanent connection to the mainland and the heightening of the abbey’s steeple—it is now over 500 feet above sea level.

Today, Mont St Michel attracts over four million visitors a year, far more than most castles in France, making it one of the most popular things to do on a France vacation. The buildings are is open year-round. Admission is about $10 each ($25 for the four museums), but a guided Mont St. Michel tour is highly recommended (about $10 extra). A Mont St. Michel tour visits several otherwise inaccessible towers and rooms. If your French is up to par, there is a guided Mont St. Michel tour every half hour. English speakers should look for the twice-daily English-language tour (more in high season).

The little town of Mont St Michel France is spread around the bottom of the island outside the religious structures. There are several good hotels and restaurants around the island. There is something peculiarly romantic about spending a night on a rock cut off from the mainland, although the place is somewhat crowded in summertime.

Mont St Michel France has been described as the Merveille de l’Occident (wonder of the Western world). It is easy to see why.

The French Riviera

The French Riviera, known in France as the Cote d’Azur, is a great destination for a holiday. It has a plethora of jet set towns including Nice, Cannes, and Saint Tropez. The beaches of the French Riviera are known throughout Europe as the hottest and most glamourous places to tan, and as the sun goes down, the Cote d’Azur is known for wild all night parties. The coastline features stunning cliffs and sweeping beaches.

Popular cities along the French Riviera include Nice, the capital of the area. Nice is more affordable than many of its cousins, features good beaches, and the old city harbors baroque churches, stylish buildings, and art museums. Nearby, the charming French Riviera towns of Antibes and Juan-les-Pins are nestled on the peninsula. Cannes is known for the fancy enclave of stars that visit its hotels, nightclubs, and beaches. Cannes is full of yachts, shopping, a few objects of cultural significance. Cannes is also famous for the yearly film festival in May. Grasse is famous for its distinct red and orange tile roofs, and the perfume. St. Tropez is another high end Cote d’Azur destination, with plenty of beaches, nightclubs, and a modest collection of museums.

With three different bodies of water along its coastlines France has plenty of water front for its beautiful beaches, and a variety of settings to please any sunbather. From the warm crystal blue water of the Mediterranean Sea, to the long, sandy beaches of the Atlantic Ocean, to the picturesque coastline along the English Channel, France has plenty of options. In addition, French beaches are know for their liberal attitude towards bathing attire, as many sunbathers tan topless, or even nude. For a more wholesome experience there are designated family beaches in some areas. Which coast you hit depends on what you’re looking for.

If you’re looking for other France attractions visit Marseille, with its charming street markets, old port, and historic sections. Stout supporters of the revolution, Louis the XIV built two fortresses on the port, with guns facing the city. In addition, France’s national anthem is called La Marseilles, named from the soldiers chanting the tune as the marched to Paris. Normandy is an historic area of France. Also on the list of France attractions is Normandy, home to the D-Day beaches, as well as many charming and picturesque towns. Joan of Arch was burned in Rouen, an ancient, inland town with superb medieval buildings and museums. Mont-St-Michael bay contains a beautiful seascape, with a 264 feet granite wall. Of course, some of the most famous France attractions area in Paris. Paris is a center for museums, restaurants, monuments, and shopping. The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre museum, and Notre Dame cathedral all reside in Paris. Bordeaux is home to amazing French wine and Lyon is a historic and well located metropolis, perfect for blitzing into Switzerland, Italy, and the Alps.

The French Alps

A popular area loaded with vacation opportunities, the French Alps were sculpted by glaciers, giving the corresponding valleys a mild climate and rich soil. There are a lot of towns in the area, for what at first glance might seem like an inhospitable and isolated section of France. In fact, the French Alps are loaded with well connected towns, and are popular year round, making them ideal for vacations in France. Divided into two providences, Savoy in the north, containing Mont Blanc, and Dauphine in the south, home to Grenoble, the main city of the alps, the French Alps are a popular and diverse region.

Inspiring craggy peaks and snowcapped mountains rise up in the French Alps, where there are fantastic opportunities for skiers and snowboarders. There are over 200 resorts in the Alps, with Chamonix, Megeve and Val d’Isere being the most popular. Chamonix features the world’s highest cable car, and Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe, is near Chamonix. Annecy has lantern lit lanes, Chambery contain the most history, and Grenoble is the largest city in the French Alps.

Weather gives way very rapidly and varies from summer to winter. With pleasant weather in the summer the valleys open up to lush green fauna and fields of wildflowers. Hiking, as well as rafting, mountain biking, and canoeing are popular. Paragliding and skydiving are also possible. There are three national parks and four regional parks within the Alps--Vanoise, Ecrins, and Mercantour.

In addition, France tourist attractions are varied and wide including Marseille to the south, with its charming street markets, old port, and historic sections. Stout supporters of the revolution, Louis the XIV built two fortresses on the port, with guns facing the city. In addition, France’s national anthem is called La Marseilles, named from the soldiers chanting the tune as the marched to Paris. Normandy is an historic area of France. Home to the D-Day beaches, as well as many charming and picturesque towns. Joan of Arch was burned in Rouen, an ancient, inland town with superb medieval buildings and museums. Mont-St-Michael bay contains a beautiful seascape, with a 264 feet granite wall. The French Rivera is a popular France tourist attractions. It has a plethora of jet set towns including Nice, Cannes, and Saint Tropez. Of course, the most famous of French towns is Paris. Paris is a center for museums, restaurants, monuments, and shopping. The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre museum, and Notre Dame cathedral all reside in Paris. Bordeaux is home to amazing French wine and Lyon is a historic and well located metropolis, perfect for blitzing into Switzerland, Italy, and the Alps. Plenty of cities hold great France tourist attractions, and the French Alps are a beautiful and athletic place to spend a French vacation.

Beaches in France

With three different bodies of water along its coastlines France has plenty of water front for its beautiful beaches, and a variety of settings to please any sunbather. From the warm crystal blue water of the Mediterranean Sea, to the long, sandy beaches of the Atlantic Ocean, to the picturesque coastline along the English Channel, French beaches are varied and plentiful. In addition, beaches in France are know for their liberal attitude towards bathing attire, as many sunbathers tan topless, or even nude. For a more wholesome experience there are designated family beaches in some areas. Which coast you hit depends on what you’re looking for.

The beaches in the south of France, nestled on the Mediterranean Sea, are typically warmer, sandier, and more expensive to vacation in than other areas of France, as the jet set crowed likes to play in the surf on the French Rivera. Nice is one of the the more modestly priced towns, while St. Tropez and Cannes are more posh, along with their coveted sandy beaches in the south of France. Of course, the glamor of a riviera vacation is sometimes worth expense, and the sunny Mediterranean can’t be beat. If you’re feeling a bit risque, there are plenty of natural and topless beaches in France. There are designated family beaches, but along the boulevards nobody seems to mind, or get to out of hand. If you brought your yacht, as many of the celebrities do, don’t limit yourself to the crowded beaches in the south of France, near the cities of the rivera, cruise up the coast and find a less crowded beach.

The beaches in France along the Atlantic are longer and less crowded then their counterparts on the French Riviera, but the bustling hotspots can get every bit as dense. The Atlantic keeps the water cooler than the Mediterranean, and the ocean waves rolling in are a boon to surfers. The northern coastline features the historic D-day beaches, as well as beaches for sunbathing and surfing.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower, an icon of Paris, is a wonder of design and structure, and an impressive sight worth getting close to. Lie in the grass at the Champs de mars and gaze up. Ascend the tower for spectacular views of Paris. Return at night with a bottle of Merlot to watch the spectacular light display. The Eiffel Tower tops out at over 1,000 feet, containing 2 restaurants, a souvenir shop, a post office (for that one of a kind postmark), snack bar, and a viewing area.

The world famous Paris tower is a mass of iron designed by Gustave Eiffel for the Universal Exposition of 1889 and was the tallest structure in the world until 1930, when New York’s Chrysler building surpassed it. The Paris tower faced criticism, especially from the artistic community of Paris, calling the structure a “truly tragic street lamp.” Allegedly, Guy de Maupassant ate lunch on the lower level of the Paris tower everyday because it was the only view of the city in which he couldn’t see it. The critics were slowly silenced as 2 million visitors ascended the tower in 1889. Today, the Eiffel Tower is an icon of Paris, and is embraced by the city.

Fifty tons of paint are used every 5 years to repaint the structure. A permanent light display goes off every hour in the evenings. Skate 187 feet above the Earth, during the winter, as the Eiffel Tower Paris turns the first floor into a rink. The tower has two restaurants, Altitude 95, located on the first floor 95 meters above sea level, and “reminiscent of an airship moored above Paris” according to the Eiffel Tower website. Also on the first deck are a souvenir shop, exhibit on the Paris tower, snack bar, and the post office. On the second floor, a specialty food shop, the restaurant Le Jules Verne, some historical panels, and another snack bar (in case you’re using the stairs instead of the elevator). At the top level, along with panoramic views, is a replica of Gustave Eiffel’s office, complete with wax figures of the man himself.

No Paris travel guide would be complete without mentioning famous Paris attractions including, the Panthéon, a monument dedicated to historical personages of France, housing a crypt containing over 70 people, including Votaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Marie Curie, and Alexandre Dumas. Notre Dame cathedral, with its ornate interior is an awe inspiring and popular destination. Pay homage to French author Victor Hugo, and ascend the bell tower for a look at the gargoyles from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Worth mentioning in any Paris travel guide is the Arc de Triomphe, located on the famed avenue Champs Élysées and centered in the world largest traffic roundabout. It is a simple, yet daunting monument commissioned by Napoleon. The gothic Saint Chapelle, built in the 13th century, has 15 stained glass windows depicting an entire biblical history.

Also important to mention in a Paris travel guide are some of the world famous museums Paris is home to including the gigantic Louve, which houses the Mona Lisa; the Musee d’Orsay, with artists such as Renoir, Monet, and van Gogh; and the National d’Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou, home to a modern art collection.

The Eiffel Tower Paris, still a marvel of structure and design, is a must see stop on any Paris itinerary. Constructed for the World’s Exhibition of 1889, the Eiffel Tower Paris was slow to be embraced, but is now a beloved symbol of Paris, and one of Europe, if not the world’s most recognizable.

Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris is located 19 miles east of Paris. It is a full-featured vacation paradise with hotels, Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios, rides, a golf course, and the magic of Disneyland. With areas like Fronteirland, Fantasyland, and Adventureland, every member of the family is bound to find something to enjoy.

Many outfits offer Disneyland Paris packages including combinations with airfare, and lodging at a Disneyland Paris hotel. There are seven Disneyland Paris hotels at the Paris Disneyland offering a variety of themed lodging and a range of prices from the luxurious high end to the budget vacationer. On the high end the Disneyland Hotel offers Victorian styling and top of the line service. For a more urban stay, with the same luxuries, Disney’s Hotel New York offers Big Apple style. At the mid range the Newport Bay Club emulates a nautical style and Sequoia Lodge is inspired by America’s national parks. Two desert themed Disneyland Paris hotels include the Hotel Santa Fe and Hotel Cheyenne. Scorching desert and cactus and a brush with outlaws in the wild west are some of the highlights. All for modestly priced budgets. Davy Crockett’s Ranch is 15 minutes away, but offers private bungalows in a rustic escape. No matter your tastes, there are multiple Disneyland Paris hotels to fit you style.

Most Paris vacations include a stop at the Eiffel Tower, one of the most famous of Paris attractions. Built for the 1889 World’s Exhibition, the Eiffel Tower tops out at over 1,000 feet. Other popular Paris attractions include the Panthéon, a monument dedicated to historical personages of France, housing a crypt containing over 70 people, including Votaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Marie Curie, and Alexandre Dumas. Notre Dame cathedral, with its ornate interior is an awe inspiring and popular destination. Pay homage to French author Victor Hugo, and ascend the bell tower for a look at the gargoyles from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Additional places worth a look during Paris vacations are the Arc de Triomphe and the Saint Chapelle cathedral. The Arc de Triomphe, a simple, yet daunting monument commissioned by Napoleon, is located on the famed avenue Champs Élysées and centered in the world largest traffic roundabout. The gothic Saint Chapelle, built in the 13th century, has 15 stained glass windows depicting an entire biblical history.

In addition to monuments, other notable Paris attractions include the world famous museums including the gigantic Louve, which houses the Mona Lisa; the Musee d’Orsay, with artists such as Renoir, Monet, and van Gogh; and the National d’Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou, home to a modern art collection. For the darker side of Paris vacations visit the Cimetiére du Pére Lachaise is a hodgepodge of tombstone and shrines. Visitors flock to lay kisses on Oscar Wilde’s tomb, or view rock star Jim Morrison’s grave. The daring should visit the Catacombes de Paris where millions of Parisian’s bones are stacked after the were exhumed from cemeteries to combat a plague. The underground tunnels are thrilling and impressive. From within Europe many Disneyland Paris deals are available that include airfare from popular cities such as London, and lodging at a Disneyland hotel.

Cite de Carcassonne

A traveler approaching Carcassonne France would be excused for supposing that he is coming into a fairy tale world. The fortified city stands majestically on a hill overlooking the lush countryside of the Languedoc and the distant Pyrenees Mountains.

Carcassonne history goes back as least as far as Roman Gaul; parts of the city’s fortifications date from 1st century AD. Located at the strategic intersection of two historic trade routes, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and from Spain to the center of France, Carcassonne’s defenses were strengthened by successive owners. In the 5th century, the Visigoth’s extended the Roman defenses and for many years after Carcassonne Castle proved impenetrable to invaders.

One legend from Carcassonne history is the attempted siege by Charlemagne in the 9th century. According to the story, a Madame Carcas cunning fed the last of the city’s wheat to a pig in full view of the invading army. Believing that the besieged townspeople had an inexhaustible supply of food, Charlemagne retreated from the walls and the town was renamed in honor of the ingenious lady. The story is apocryphal; Carcassonne France took its name (or a version of it) even before the Roman conquest of Gaul.

Carcassonne France came under control of the French crown in 1247. King Louis IX (St. Louis) and his successor Philip III further strengthened the fortifications of Carcassonne Castle and built the “new town” outside the defenses. English troops laid siege to the city during the Hundred Years War, but once again in Carcassonne history, the fortifications proved impenetrable.

Many French castles, such as Chambord Castle and Chenonceau Castle in the Loire Valley, were built not as defensive structures, but as palaces for entertainment. Carcassonne Castle is more like the fortresses along the English-Scottish border (Alnwick Castle in England and Stirling Castle in Scotland, for example), in that its defenses were an essential part of its architecture. For many years, Carcassonne France marked the border between France and Aragon (a kingdom in modern Spain). In 1659, however, the border moved south to the Pyrenees and the Cite de Carcassonne lost its military significance.

For the next several centuries of Carcassonne history, the fortified walls were allowed to fall into disrepair. In the mid-19th century, the French government proposed demolishing the walls. A popular uproar saved Carcassonne Castle and the architect and historian Eugene Viollet-le-Duc was commissioned to restore the medieval fortifications. (Viollet-le-Duc also restored the famed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.)

The restoration, though not strictly authentic, proved a great success. Today, over three million visitors come to Carcassonne France every year. The double walls stretch over 2 miles around a maze of medieval streets and museums. Over 50 towers rise from the fortifications to overlook the River Aude River and the surrounding green countryside. Admission into the walled city is free; tickets to the central Château Comtal are about $10 per person.

The Cite-de-Carcassonne is located in the lovely Languedoc region of France, near the border with Spain. The closest big city is Toulouse, about sixty miles to the northwest.

Chenonceau Castle

The castles in Loire Valley are some of the most visited and best loved attractions in France, a cluster of stately mansions, royal palaces, and extravagant châteaux. The beautiful valley is a great place for a French camping vacation or a day trip from Paris. (Tours, the principal city of the Loire Valley, is about 150 miles from the French capital.) In the heart of the valley, along the River Cher, lies the most romantic French castle: Chenonceau Castle (Château de Chenonceau).

Chenonceau Castle was traditionally a castle for women, and its design shows the delicate touch of its many female residents—so much so that it is often referred to as the château de femmes. Katherine Briçonnet, wife of Thomas Bohier, a wealthy tax collector, began construction of this elegant French castle in the early 16th century.

Katherine and Thomas died, leaving their son was left with massive debts. To settle these, he sold Chenonceau to the French crown. When King Henry II succeeded to the crown in 1547 he gave Chenonceau Castle to his older mistress, Dianne de Poitiers, a legendary beauty of the time.

Dianne is responsible for expanding Chenonceau Castle over the set of arches spanning the River Cher, giving the appearance that the château is floating on water and helping to make it the most beautiful castles in Loire Valley.

After Henry’s death his wife, Catherine de Medici, took possession of this French castle from her dead husband’s mistress. Catherine made many improvements to the chateau, landscaping the gardens and completing the construction of the raised bridge, including a 200-foot long gallery that runs from one end of Chenonceau Castle to the other. Catherine bequeathed this French castle to Louise of Lorraine, the wife of her son Henry III. When Henry died unexpectedly, the Queen entered into a life of mourning, becoming known as the “white queen” for her refusal to remove the traditional white widow robes.

Like many castles in Loire Valley, Chenonceau Castle was never intended to be a defensive fortress and has none of the imposing walls and towers that typify medieval castles, like Stirling Castle in Scotland. Instead, this was an achingly beautiful pleasure palace and is now one of the most popular attractions in France. (The only château with more visitors is Versailles, near Paris.)

Unlike some castles in Loire Valley, Chenonceau was saved from the ravages of the French Revolution by another woman, Louise Dupin, a favorite host in Enlightenment France. This elegant French castle was bought by the Menier family (famous for their chocolates) in 1913. The Meniers restored Chenonceau Castle in the 1950s, bringing the then-dilapidated structure and flood-ravaged gardens back to their former glory.

Chenonceau Castle is open to the public year-round. Summer hours are 9 am to 7 pm (fall and winter hours are shorter). This is one of the busiest attractions in France, so it is best to come early to avoid crowds. Admission is about $15 each. The château contains a wealth of objets d’art: intricately sculpted ceilings, antique furniture, and world-class paintings by Rubens, Correggio, and others. The formal gardens (one laid out for Dianne de Poitiers, the other for Catherine de Medici) are also well worth a visit.

Chartres Cathedral

With its history, inspiring architecture and beautiful stained-glass windows, it is no wonder that Chartres Cathedral is one of the most popular tourist attractions in France along with the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. Located less than 100 kilometres outside of Paris, Chartres Cathedral is considered a masterpiece of French gothic architecture, a style that it shares with other cathedrals in France including the famed Notre Dame Cathedral.

As you approach the town of Chartres, you will notice two spires towering above the medieval city’s roofs. They belong to the two imposing towers, measuring a stately 105 metres and 113 metres, of Chartres Cathedral.

The site of the present Chartres Cathedral France has hosted no less than four other cathedrals that were destroyed by fire. One of the most devastating fires occurred when lighting struck the Chartres Cathedral in 1194. According to legend, the town’s people panicked as an ancient relic – the Sancta Camisia, a tunic of the Virgin Mary – was supposed to be inside. Luckily, priests were able to save the precious artefact. This was declared to be an auspicious sign, and it was decided that an even more glorious cathedral should be built on the site. Townspeople were so eager to help with the construction of Chartres Cathedral that many volunteered to haul the heavy stones located in quarries that were five miles away. The soaring structure, which took less than 30 years to build, incorporated the ancient Royal Portal which survived the 1194 fire and dates back to the 1140’s.

One of the main design features of the exterior of Chartres Cathedral France is its numerous flying buttresses. This structural feature is used to accommodate the enormous windows that are located on the inside of Chartres Cathedral. When you step inside its doors, you will note that the upper walls of the choir and nave are composed almost entirely of glass.

The light spilling into the Chartres Cathedral comes from its stained-glass windows which date back as far as the early 13th century. Chartres Cathedral is said to contain one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of medieval stained-glass. The cathedral was originally fitted with 186 windows. During the Second World War, the stained-glass windows of Chartres Cathedral France were actually removed and hidden from harm in the French countryside. Today, you’ll be able to see the 152 that have survived. One of the most stunning features of the Chartres Cathedral stained-glass is its vibrant blue colour which can be fully appreciated by viewing the Blue Virgin window. It is these beautiful windows that help to make the cathedral one of the most popular tourist attractions in France.

Another design feature that makes Chartres Cathedral one of the most popular tourist attractions in France is its labyrinth. Embedded in the pavement of the cathedral’s nave, the superb 131-foot wide labyrinth is 964 feet long and was walked by pilgrims and monks as a means of contemplation or repentance. Divided into four quadrants, pilgrims would walk its meandering path, gradually moving closer and closer to the rosette design as its centre which symbolizes enlightenment.

Admission to Chartres Cathedral is free of charge. The Cathedral is open daily from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm.