At a mere 96 kilometers southwest of Paris, the town of Chartres is located in an ideal location in north-central France. Built on the left bank of the Eure River, it is famous for the twin spires of its landmark Gothic cathedral, Notre-Dame de Chartres, which can be seen from far across the plain of Beauce to the southeast and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In addition, the 13th century abbey church of St. Pierre contains 12 magnificent enamel representations of the apostles, created by Leonard Limosin in 1547. Also of note, the St. Aignan and St. Martin au Val churches boast impressive stained glass windows and were constructed from the 13th through the 17th centuries.

The Eure River divides into three branches in Chartres and is crossed by numerous bridges, some of them quite ancient. Here, the river is also bordered in places by portions of old fortifications, including the 14th century gateway and towers known as Porte Guillaume.