Chartres en lumières 2023

In 2023, Chartres en Lumière celebrates its 20th anniversary. For this special anniversary, the Fête de la lumière will make its comeback, after a 3-year break due to the covid-19 epidemic.

The City of Chartres organised the first Festival of Light and Perfume in 2003. The following year, the illuminations lasted every evening of the summer. Since then, the success of the event has never waned and Chartres en lumières has grown over the years until today, when it is held every evening for ten months out of twelve.

"This event allows visitors to discover the city in a "different light", at night, and to stop in front of buildings that reveal themselves in a different way. Indeed, the bridges and wash-houses of Chartres are made up of details that only light can sublimate, and the media library, a real architectural jewel, exposes all its secrets every evening... This year more than ever, Chartres is proud to have invested in low-energy devices, which allow this magical show to continue despite the current context."

Jean-Pierre Gorges, Maire de Chartres

Dates and times

The 20 sites of Chartres en lumières are illuminated EVERY night from dusk to 1am (11.30pm from 29 October), from 15 April 2023 to 6 January 2024.

The lighting of the illuminations varies according to the time of nightfall.

Find the detailed timetable day by day