Chartres, a town 96 km (61 miles) southwest of Paris, has one of Europe's finest Gothic cathedrals, well worth an easy day-trip from Paris.

The Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Chartres is beloved deeply by those who know it because of its harmonious pure Gothic architecture, its splendid stained-glass windows, and its medieval floor maze.

Twenty trains per day depart Paris's Gare Montparnasse for Chartres (pronounced SHART). The trip takes about an hour each way. More...

Plan your trip for a sunny day (consult Weather.com for a forecast) so you can see the cathedral's stained glass windows to best effect.

It's a short (10-minute) walk uphill from the gare (train station) to the cathedral by way of the town's main square, where there are public toilets.

The Office du Tourisme, in front of the cathedral, provides maps and guidance.

Behind the cathedral, Chartres's Musée de Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum) is lodged in the former mansion of the bishops. A nice park between the museum and the cathedral offers fine views of the town.

A dozen restaurants provide sustinence: Turkish kebaps on the street from the gare, traditional French cuisine near the Office du Tourisme, and sidewalk cafés next to the cathedral.