Located 50 miles from Paris, the city of Chartres, first established a cathedral in the 4th century A.D. Seven hundred years later, construction began to replace the fire-damaged church with Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, which still attracts visitors to Chartes. The churche's 12th and 13th century stained-glass windows, are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres, ranks as one of the largest churches in France and contains 4,000 statues. Within a short walking distance of the cathedral, tourists can view the 16th century "House of the Spinning Sow." This wooden-beamed house may be the most picturesque house in the old city, but the oldest house on rue Chantault dates back to the 12th century A.D. The International Stained-Glass Center features exhibits and offers glass workshops to guests. The ancient art of calligraphy lives on at Monique Manceau's workshop and historic souvenirs are plentiful in the local antique stores.
Eighty miles from Paris, the Normandy city of Rouen, had a prominent role to play in history as the place where Joan of Arc met her gruesome death and William the Conqueror died. This medieval city contains many houses that date to the 13th century A.D. and 14 city museums provide further insight into the local history and French culture. The impressive Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, survives as a reminder of the Gothic style that once was pervasive across northern Europe. The cathedral attracts large crowds on summer evenings when the Son et Lumiere light show, inspired by Claude Monet's artwork, brings it to life. Many antiques shoppers head to Rouen to explore the more than 80 stores that cater to them.
The city of Reims, sits at the heart of the famous Champagne region of France. Just 80 miles from Paris, the city of Reims attracts tourists eager to learn about its most famous drink, sparkling Champagne wine, and tour its historic streets. Wine production began in the region 2,000 years ago, and champagne started to flow 300 years ago. Some champagne tourist routes begin in Reims, before heading south to the vineyards of Montagne de Reims, less than 10 minutes by car from the city. More than a dozen "Champagne cellars" in the city open their doors to tourists seeking samples and insight into the Champagne-making process.
The 13th century Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims hosted royal coronations and today stands out among Reims' other historic landmarks as one of four UNESCO World Heritage sites in Reims; the others are the former abbey of Saint Remi, the archbishop's palace and the Basilique Saint-Remi.
