Maintenon / Chartres

Leave Maintenon by cycling under the château’s aqueduct, the majestic remnants of a madcap idea of Louis XIV’s, to divert the waters of the Eure River as far as Versailles. Continuing through country parts, follow the river and the little lakes beside it, offering lovely refreshing spots at which to stop. Reaching Chartres, the breathtaking view of its cathedral is the highlight on this stage full of visual delights.

 Stage description

You cycle off from Maintenon along the D18 county road, so take care, as traffic can be heavy along it at certain times of day. After one kilometre, leave this road to your left to follow a road that meanders along the Eure Valley, serving a series of typical villages: Saint-Piat; Jouy; and Saint-Prest.

From Saint-Prest, the Veloscenic signposting then guides you along a pretty greenway leading you as far as Chartres.

 Not to be missed:

• Maintenon, its château and splendid formal French gardens created in the spirit of André Le Nôtre, which served as the setting for the secret romance of Louis XIV and Madame de Maintenon. The romantic atmosphere of the park and the backdrop of Vauban's Aqueduct are truly remarkable!
• The mills beside the Eure River, offering places for a shaded break, along with the little lakes close by.
• Chartres's lower medieval town, stretching beside the Eure, marked by washhouses, little bridges, timberframe houses and picturesque streets.
• Chartres en Lumières, free illuminations after nightfall: with more than 20 major buildings around town lit up (including the cathedral), from April to January, from nightfall to 1am.
• Tour of Chartres cathedral's towers, to look down on town from on high, and to see the edifice's impressive metallic roof structure.
• The Centre International du Vitrail, a stone's throw from the cathedral, enabling you to discover all about the making of stained-glass windows, a craft so closely associated with Chartres, known as international capital of stained glass. If you wish to learn more on the subject, note that a few of the many specialist stained-glass workshops based in town offer guided tours (notably the Atelier Picol and the Ateliers Loire).
• The Maison Picassiette, an astonishing work of art somewhere between art naïf and art brut: the whole house is covered in mosaics, from floor to ceiling, the decorations even spreading into the garden. A fascinating place that draws you into the world of Raymond Isidore, a self-taught artist who dedicated his entire life to this extraordinary creation.

 On the map, activate the Accommodation Useful information Leasure Restauration to discover nearby services and points of interest.

 Food and drink en route

• Maintenon: with many stores and a market on Thursday mornings on Place du Château.
• Saint-Piat: with a boulangerie, a butcher-cum-delicatessen and a bar in a typical village that makes for a perfect place to find refreshments.
• Jouy: restaurants, pizzeria, boulangerie, butcher's, pharmacy and a cycle service area beside the Eure.
• Chartres: Rue de la Pie, the street with the greatest array of stores selling local produce with which to put together a splendid picnic; the Saturday morning market on Place Billard, ideal for buying provisions from local producers while enjoying their unfailing sense of humour; and La Petite Venise, Chartres's guinguette, to enjoy a glass of wine and a platter of local produce beside the Eure River.

 Bike repair

• Decathlon Chartres Mainvilliers, Chartres.
• Access 2 Roues, Chartres.
• Custom Bikes (mobile service on the Rambouillet–Chartres section).

 Consult the list of all the bike repairers along or near the route.

 Nearby train stations

• Maintenon station (TER Paris–Chartres line)
• Saint-Piat station (TER Paris–Chartres line)
• Jouy station (TER Paris–Chartres line)
• Saint-Prest station (TER Paris–Chartres line)

 See our article on reaching the veloscenic cycle route for more information on options for travelling with a bicycle.