Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth

The Chartres Cathedral just south of Paris is one of the greatest of all French Gothic cathedrals. Construction began in 1145 but pilgrimages to the site began as far back as 876 to pay homage to a relic, a tunic believed to have belonged to the the Virgin Mary, the Sancta Camisa. The cathedral is recognizable for its two starkly different spires. For more information, photos, and diagram, go to Wikipedia. For LOTS more maps, photos, diagrams, floorplans, etc. go to this Image Collection.

Unique to the Chartres Cathedral is a 43-foot labyrinth on the floor built around 1200--one of the oldest cathedral labyrinths still in existence. The eleven-circuit design is divided into four quadrants with a rosette center. One must walk the labyrinth several times to finally reach the center. During the Middle Ages, pilgrims walked the labyrinth as part of a spiritual journey. If you'd like to see the path of the labyrinth, go to this site. Turn on some easy listening music and sit back and relax as you watch the little green dot make its spiritual journey as you dream of France. There's a lovely surprise when it reaches the center. (Requires Shockwave Flash)

Impatient? Go to this labyrinth site and get the quicky route to the center in the top diagram! Scroll down about halfway and see an actual photo of the labyrinth in the cathedal.

Luggage

One of the first questions I'm always asked is: What kind of luggage do I need? On the flight out, you may check one bag and carry on one bag. On the return flight you may check two bags and carry on one. What kind and size bag? Talk to anyone who has traveled with me before and you will get the best answer--the smaller the better! You are your own porter. Use a bag with rollers.

The official way to measure luggage is to add the width, height, and depth of a bag including the rollers and any expandable pockets. The one I always use is a 45" rolling bag--23 x 14 x 8. It's HOW you pack that let's you carry a smaller bag. (More about packing light in a later posting.)

I use a good size backpack as my carry on bag. It fits easily under the airline seat, easy to tote in an airport and/or while rolling a separate bag. I also carry what I call a "day bag" while on tour--something to carry some daily necessities on the bus while the luggage and bigger backpack are stowed under the bus. One of those lightweight drawstring backpacks works well as it can be rolled up and packed.

I also use a small flat over-the-shoulder purse just big enough for my digital camera and a coin purse to hop off the bus to see a site. You should also have a passport pouch (neck or waist) to carry your passport and money for safety.

You use whatever is comfortable and easy for you to manage...but remember, smaller is always better!