It is this Friday December 4, 2020, at the end of the afternoon, that the Christmas 2020 festivities will kick off, in Chartres, with the launch of the illuminations.
The health context linked to the Covid-19 epidemic has forced the City and the association of shopkeepers Les Vitrines de Chartres to adapt the programming for this month of December.
Laurent Lhuillery, municipal councilor in charge of Animation and events policy, confides:
“Our desire is to offer entertainment so that the magic of Christmas is present and it will be the case. Several planned events are canceled, such as the ice rink. A meeting was organized in the prefecture on Tuesday to finalize the prescriptions sanitary facilities associated with these festivities. With the Vitrines de Chartres, we have adjusted our common programming and even added some new features. “
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Christmas lights in Chartres: starting signal on December 4th!
As sanitary constraints do not allow the setting up of events bringing together the public, the emphasis this year is on decorations and illuminations.
Fir trees
The Christmas tree in Place Marceau, coming from the Bois-Paris garden center and installed by agents from the City’s green spaces service, was decorated on Tuesday by Vitrines de Chartres and the company Citéos. The tree like all the illuminations will shine from today, at the end of the afternoon.
The Christmas tree in Place Marceau in Chartres will light up on Friday 4 December
This year, two other trees are erected and highlighted. A spectacular nearly 12 meters high, planned on the cathedral esplanade. It should be permanently installed in a few days. The last, artificial and blue in color, will be present at Porte Guillaume, on the Boulevard du Maréchal-Foch side.
Christmas village
A market will indeed be offered in Chartres this year. Juliette Pichot, president of Vitrines de Chartres, presents the device:
“Fifteen chalets will be installed on Place des Halles, with a sense of visit and counting at the entrance. It will be possible to buy hot drinks or snacks, but not to taste on site. In addition, six other chalets Place Marceau and four Place du Cygne will be installed. This village gives traders the opportunity to present local products and humanitarian associations to present their various actions. Finally, Santa Claus will be present with his house in the village. “
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Laurent Lhuillery adds: “We do not close the door to musical wanderings as far as possible. “
A large number of shops in Chartres open on Sundays until Christmas
The Christmas Village will be held from December 11 to 24, from 12 to 7 p.m. (10 to 8 p.m. Saturdays; 10 to 7 p.m. on Sundays; 10 to 5:30 p.m., December 24) .
Decorations
For the past few weeks, the decorations and illuminations have taken place along the streets, trees and lampposts. Decorations are distributed over several sites.
Frédéric Ligneul, director of events and entertainment at the City, details: “A snowman in a Christmas decor is installed in front of the south portal of the cathedral. A three-dimensional ball is planned at Place Châtelet, also with new colors for the “#Chartres” structure. A decor, a luminous arch and a wooden bench are installed on the Place de la Poissonnerie, in front of the tourist office. Lighted arches are also planned on Place des Halles and Place des Épars. “
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Automatons from the Pantomime company are installed in the entrance hall on Place des Halles, with a Christmas-themed decor. “It will be a 360 ° scenography”, specifies Frédéric Ligneul. This animation is available until January 3, 2021.
Animations and light structures
The various sites of Chartres en lumière will continue to be lively and to enchant evenings in the city, from nightfall until 10:30 p.m., throughout the holiday season.
The mayor of Chartres Jean-Pierre Gorges has indeed announced, as of this summer, that Chartres en lumière will continue until January 3, 2021. “This contributes to the magical atmosphere that the city takes at night”, underlines Laurent Lhuillery, delegate adviser to Animation and event policy.
“The Christmas mapping is also coming back to the royal portal”, notes Laurent Lhuillery. This special Christmas lighting, created by Étienne Guiol, will be launched this evening on the royal portal of the cathedral.
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Despite the constraints linked to the health crisis, new products are being offered this year. Frédéric Ligneul, director of events and entertainment at the City, presents the planned initiatives: “Monumental structures equipped with projectors, designed by the company Monique La Mouche, are presented to the public in the garden of the Bishop’s Palace, 4 to December 24. This company participated in the Festival of Light 2019 and their installations had been very successful. “
Place des Épars is also home to a decoration: “Tilt, a company which has participated on several occasions in the Fête de la lumière, is also installing a light structure at Place des Épars. A giant tree. This installation is available until January 3, 2021.
Simon Dechet
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