In the tradition of the service directed by the daughter of the famous sacristan Etienne Houvet, the ‘Reception & Visits Service’ of Chartres Cathedral aims to contribute to the international influence of the Chartres sanctuary by continuing the actions of the Houvet family.
In the tradition of the service directed by the daughter of the famous sacristan Etienne Houvet,
the Visitor Service of Chartres Cathedral aims to contribute to the international influence of the Chartres sanctuary by continuing the actions of the Houvet family.
A Church service mandated by the Bishop of Chartres and authorized by the ‘Centre des monuments nationaux’ since 1983 (a unique status in France), its missions to promote the religious heritage have enabled it to be recognized as a public utility by the Ministry of Culture.
Its primary vocation is to welcome all visitors and pilgrims who stand on the threshold of Notre-Dame. It embodies the reference pole around which are given precise and practical information, answers to your various expectations and exchanges on subjects as much cultural as spiritual.
At the same time, it organizes public and private visits designed to promote and make the cathedral better known, in its historical, artistic and religious dimensions.
The service is also responsible for the production of educational sheets and tools, and offers ongoing training to invite new recruits to perfect their knowledge on several levels: methodology (pedagogy, oral expression, gestures, etc.), factual knowledge (identification of characters and reading directions), spirituality (Bible, theology), related disciplines (medieval history, history of art, history of ideas, philosophy of art, etc.).
Composed of a professionalized structure (administration, secretariat, permanence) and about twenty guidants, the ‘Reception & Visits Service’ of Chartres Cathedral has a solid, experienced and diversified team, which ensures a national and international knowledge of the sanctuary – in particular through tours in French or foreign languages (English, German, Italian, Spanish and Japanese).
