Chartres

   An important site in French history, Chartres (the ancient Carnutes of the Gauls) is located in the north central area of the country and is the capital of the department of Eure-et-Loir. It is also an agricultural and manufacturing center, producing machinery, electrical equipment, and fertilizer. The town consists of upper and lower sections connected by steep streets. The high point of Chartres is its world-famous Cathedral of Notre-Dame (12th-13th centuries), noted for its beautiful spires and stained-glass windows and its Renaissance choir screen. Its north tower, known as the "Clocher neuf," was erected in 1513. An ancient settlement (it was the capital of the Gauls and a sacred center of Druidism), Chartres was burned by the Normans in 858 and became a possession of the French kings in 1286. Besieged by huguenot forces during the religious wars of the 16th century, it was the site of henry iv's coronation in 1594. The House of orléans was given the title dukes of Chartres by King louis XIV. The city was occupied by German forces in 1870 and 1871, and again during World War II from 1940 to 1944. The population is presently about 28,000.