The 32nd Paris to Chartres Pilgrimage, 7-9 June 2014

The Chartres Pilgrimage is a three-day walk from the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Chartres, a city south-west of Paris.

Pilgrimage to Chartres is a tradition that reaches back into the depths of history. The pagans venerated the Virgo Paritura or Virgin giving birth to a God; the Christians took that to be a dim prefiguring of Our Blessed Lady and built successive Churches and then Cathedrals on the site of the current Cathedral in Chartres.

The present pilgrimage, which originated in the 12th century,  was revived in 1983 after nearly a century of neglect, and draws a crowd of upwards of 12,000 pilgrims from over 30 countries for three days of prayer and penance.

Pilgrims are organised into groups of 20-60 people. Each group is under the patronage of a saint and referred to as a 'chapter'. Chapters are led by laymen, who organise the chapter, meditations, rosary, and prayers. Chaplains, priests and religious accompany the pilgrims as they walk, hearing confession and teaching.
The Mass is celebrated every day according to the Roman Missal of Pope John XXIII. The liturgy is the traditional Latin one, stressing the universal character of the holy Mass.

Pilgrims walk through the streets of Paris, the countryside, and finally the city of Chartres. Pilgrims walk from the early morning until the evening. The terrain can be muddy, rocky, and demanding, but the rewards of such a penitential exercise are eternal.

Pilgrims sleep at campsites, equipped with basic wash facilities and collective tents. The pilgrimage organisers, Notre-Dame de Chrétienté, provide bread and water at intervals during the walk. Pilgrims bring additional food with them for each day. Weather varies during the three days, and pilgrims must prepare accordingly. For more information see: What to bring


The Irish Chapter, under the patronage of St Patrick, has taken part in the pilgrimage since
1998. As well as pilgrims from all over Ireland, we welcome people from other countries
who wish to walk with us.

To register with the Irish Chapter or for more information regarding prices please contact John King or for general information about the pilgrimage contact  Katie O'Driscoll or chapitrestpatrick@gmail.com

The pilgrimage takes place from the 7th to the 9th of June 2014. The Irish pilgrimage is from the 6th to the 10th of June.