Camping near Chartres
Medieval marvels await campers in this Cathedral City.
- Chartres
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Camping near Chartres guide
Overview
The brooding Gothic spires and showstopping stained glass windows of Chartres Cathedral are the stuff of postcards—no wonder it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site. But the famous pilgrimage site isn’t the only reason to swing by this Eure-et-Loir city. If you’re road-tripping between Paris and the Loire Valley, Chartres makes a strategic stopover, and its tangle of cobbled lanes is peppered with half-timbered buildings and striking murals. Once you’ve finished sightseeing, check into one of the region’s many campsites, which range from simple aires (caravan parks) and municipal campsites to riverside spots along the Eure River.
Where to go
Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Natural Park
Northeast of Chartres, the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Natural Park hugs the outskirts of Paris, just a short drive from the Palace of Versailles. Once you’ve explored the former stomping ground of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, escape to the rambling woodlands and medieval villages of the regional park, where you can hike, bike, and horseback ride along miles of trails.
Loiret
The easternmost stretch of the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley lies just southeast of Chartres. Orléans is the regional heart, where you can follow in the footsteps of Joan of Arc and admire the half-timbered Old Town before setting out along the Loire River along the Loire à Vélo bike trail, visiting the chateaux of Beaugency and Sully sur Loire, and sampling the region’s red Pinot Meunier wines.
Perche Regional Natural Park
Characterful villages, historic mansion houses, and hilly hikes pave the way through the Perche Regional Natural Park, just west of Chartres. A horse carriage ride is the quintessential way to admire the views—this is the birthplace of the Percheron draft horses—after which you can choose from various campgrounds, glampsites, and unique accommodation options.
When to go
Pilgrims and tourists congregate at Chartres Cathedral in July and August, so expect big crowds and inflated prices if you visit over the summer holidays. For the best views, come between April and September to admire the nightly Chartres en Lumières illuminations—our pick is spring, when cherry blossoms and wisteria also bloom around town. As with the rest of France, camping season runs from April to October, and many campgrounds close outside of this period.
