BV25-36 Chartres > Paris

I have covered a to-and-from route before but realized I had not posted the classic Chartres to Paris route. I have done variations of this ride many times, and I really enjoy taking the train out rather than back. Inevitably you arrive in a town with just enough time to rush to the train, or you end up waiting an hour or more. That is one of the reasons I like this reverse option.

Getting to Chartres is easy. It is about a one-hour train ride from Montparnasse, and the train drops you in the city center less than a kilometer from the cathedral. The route takes you right past it. The cathedral is a UNESCO site and absolutely worth a stop before you start your journey back to Paris.

The route heads northeast towards Maintenon, not quite passing the château but going by the remnants of the aqueduct, which are quite stunning. From there you continue to Rambouillet, again not directly in front of the château. If you are interested in stopping at the sites, I have a slightly different version that brings you right by them. Afterward you roll through more forest and farmland on the way to Chevreuse, taking the southern road across the valley before climbing up to Châteaufort. As you approach Buc, the route cuts right and descends to Jouy-en-Josas for a more scenic return than heading straight through Versailles. This option adds some climbing out of Jouy and again through Meudon, but it is worth it for more forest time and less city. From there it is a classic drop to the Seine and a fast spin back to the café.

If you have not been to Chartres and a full round trip feels too ambitious, I highly recommend this option.

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