Chartres en lumières - 2025 season - Chartres en lumières

Chartres en lumières returns for its 22th edition with 21 sites illuminated 7 nights a week, from 5 April 2025 to 4 January 2026. The 2025 season has some surprises in store for you: several emblematic sites will be hosting new scenographic displays. Rendezvous in front of Saint-Pierre church, the Chartres theatre and the Minimes bridge.

With Chartres en lumières, plunge into a colourful fairytale world and discover in an atypical way the essential sites in the heart of Chartres from dusk to 1am (11.30pm after the 26 October).

Enjoy the stories that are told at your own pace and according to your wishes: you are free to choose your own route and stroll around the centre of Chartres.

Chartres en lumières celebrates Christmas !

Rivière des lutins - illuminations de Noël - Lavoir Grenouillère — Wash House ot the Grenouillère - December 2022

Get ready to experience the magic of the festive season with Chartres en Lumières ! A dozen sites will be decked out in Christmas colours from Saturday 29 November at 6pm until Sunday 4 January. Marvel at the river of elves on the bridges and wash houses of the lower town, attend a banquet at the Hôtel Montescot or take a trip to Lapland at the Museum of Fine Arts. And of course, the spirit of Christmas will also light up Chartres Cathedral.

> Dates: From Saturday 29 November at 6pm until Sunday 4 January at 11pm.

Find out more about the Christmas lights

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The royal portal of the Chartres cathedral

BLEU – miroir des Hommes et du Ciel - Portail royal de la cathédrale

Blue is not a colour. It is a sensation, a memory, a wave. Embark on a visual and sensory journey through eight monumental paintings.

Until 29 November (the exhibition will be replaced by a Christmas display).

More information

Theater of Chartres

scénographie "A l'italienne" sur la façade du théâtre de Chartres

The ornate facade of the theater is the setting for an enchanted, artistic interlude of travel, art and colour.

More information

Saint-Pierre's Church

Milles et une pierre - illumination de l'église Saint-Pierre - M2 Event

Philosopher's stone, rock , precious stone or desert sand, a thousand and one stones will be on display in this building in Chartres's lower town.

More information

Minimes bridge

Résonances, illumination du pont des Minimes - Holymage

A rich palette of geometric motifs highlights the bridge, the water and its reflection, deceiving the spectator to no end. The show is a poetic visual metaphor for change that can lead to new forms of beauty and harmony.d'harmonie.

Until 29 November (the exhibition will be replaced by a Christmas display).

More information

Others scenographies

Le portail royal de la cathédrale de Chartres — Chartres cathedral : the royal portal

Nef de lumière - other show of he royal portal of the Chartres cathedral

The north portal of the Chartres cathedral

The rose of the south portal

Museum of Fine Arts : the façade of Honor

Hôtel Montescot - Pierre, feuille, ciseaux — The Montescot Hotel

The Montescot Hotel

The Fresco of Lattre de Tassigny

The Place Billard

The theater of Chartres

The Eurelium - the county's archives

La collégiale Saint-André - Faune et flore - M2 Creative — The Collegiate church of Saint-André

The Collegiate church of Saint-André

The Saint-Hilaire arcades and bridge

The Saint-Hilaire bridge

The Wash house of the Grenouillère

The Foulerie Wash House

Le pont de singes - Pont Bouju - Chartres en lumières — The Bouju bridge

The Saint-Pierre's Church

The Minimes bridge

The Bouju bridge

The Mill and Saint-Père bridge

The Gloriette quay and wash house

Activities

Guided tours in Petit Chart'train

Set off on a luminous journey without tiring yourself out. From April to January, the Petit Chart'train winds its way through the city centre in the evening from one illuminated site to the next, commenting on the treasures and mysteries of the old town of Chartres.

Guided tour by C'Chartres Tourisme

The tourist office offers guided tours and will reveal details, anecdotes and secrets. A suspended moment where the scenographies take all their meaning.

These guided tours are only available in French

Find out more

Practical informations

Dates and times

The 21 sites of Chartres en lumières are illuminated EVERY, night from dusk to 11pm, until 4th January 2026.

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

November : around 6pm
December: 5.45pm
January : 5.45pm

Find the detailed timetable day by day

Free route

Enjoy the stories that are told at your own pace and according to your desires: you are free to design your own itinerary and stroll through the city centre of Chartres.

Geolocate all the illuminated sites on the Chartres en lumières map