A Walk Around The Town of Chartres, France

Chartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in France. It is located about 90 km (56 mi) southwest of Paris. Chartres is famous world-wide for its cathedral. Mostly constructed between 1193 and 1250, this Gothic cathedral is in an exceptional state of preservation. The majority of the original stained glass windows survive intact, while the architecture has seen only minor changes since the early 13th century. Much of the old town, including the library associated with the School of Chartres, was destroyed by bombs in 1944.
In the 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian War, Chartres was seized by the Germans on 2 October 1870, and continued during the rest of the war to be an important centre of operations.
In World War II, the city suffered heavy damage by bombing and during the battle of Chartres in August 1944, but its cathedral was spared by an American Army officer who challenged the order to destroy it. On 16 August 1944, Colonel Welborn Barton Griffith, Jr. questioned the necessity of destroying the cathedral and volunteered to go behind enemy lines to find out whether the Germans were using it as an observation post. With his driver, Griffith proceeded to the cathedral and, after searching it all the way up its bell tower, confirmed to Headquarters that it was empty of Germans. The order to destroy the cathedral was withdrawn.
Colonel Griffith was killed in action later on that day in the town of Lèves, 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles) north of Chartres. For his heroic action both at Chartres and Lèves, Colonel Griffith received, posthumously, several decorations awarded by the President of the United States and the U.S. Military, and also from the French government.
Chartres is built on a hill on the left bank of the Eure River. Its renowned medieval cathedral is at the top of the hill, and its two spires are visible from miles away across the flat surrounding lands. To the southeast stretches the fertile plain of Beauce, the "granary of France", of which the town is the commercial centre.

[@AUboy5]

I visited in 2019. Such a beautiful town.

[@Fabhandi]

👍 en période hivernal il y a les illuminations
Partage : ua-cam.com/video/JCzDXFI5UQc/v-deo.html
goodbye and looking forward to future videos

[@pacificH2O]

Beautiful Would you recommend Chartres for expats wanting to live in France and somewhat near Paris? Thank you Michael!

[@MichaelJirochVisualArtist]

Oh wouldn’t that be wonderful!

[@timroot2231]

Saw a quick glimpse of friend Jim Garrison in one shot!

[@leoniepowrie4684]

I really enjoyed this video, especially given the travel restrictions we face now.. Thanks so much!

[@justonemori]

Thank you for this footage. I've been researching my grandfather and he took a drive through on 16 August, 1944. The locals were very happen to see him and his friends. I hope to visit one day to appreciate what was lost, won and what has become since. Cheers!

[@c.k.3818]

I'm here now spending 4 days in Chartres. It's so beautiful.

[@nelsonsimas7028]

Merci, Michel Giroch, wonderful video.

[@magrets]

I grew up there

[@MichaelJirochVisualArtist]

What a beautiful place to grow up.

[@magrets]

@@MichaelJirochVisualArtist yes I guess it is, I was living right behind the cathedral and my school was right in front of it. It's a beautiful town with lots of people coming to admire it, which is lovely :)

[@pacificH2O]

How much snow does Chartres typically get? Thank you!

[@zartatube6800]

Thank you beautiful

[@emiliechartrand9259]

I need to go here.