How to get from Paris to Provins. Where there is medieval France
The walled city of Provins in the Seine-et-Marne department is of great architectural value.
In Provins, the atmosphere of the era of knights and feudal lords is carefully recreated. Then it was the economic capital of the counties of Champagne: there were major trade fairs connecting the north of Europe with the Mediterranean. Provins has 58 historical monuments and has been on the list since 2001 world heritage UNESCO. Medieval city is located just 80 km southeast of Paris - the journey takes about an hour.
Attractions
fortress wall. 22 towers of various shapes rise above the 1200 m long wall. The construction of the fortification lasted from 1226 to 1314.
Caesar's Tower. Donjon of the 12th century with a magnificent view of the city and the Briar fields.
grunge-o-dim. Former indoor market, now a museum dedicated to medieval fairs in Provins.
10 km underground galleries and 150 Romanesque and Gothic rooms.
Wide rectangular Place Châtel with ancient buildings of the XIII-XV centuries.
"Maison Roman". The oldest building in the city now houses the Provins Museum.
Collegiate Church of Saint-Cyrias 12th century
Rose garden. More than 300 varieties grow on the territory of 3.5 hectares, including Provencal rose. Flowering time is June. Desserts based on rose petals can be tasted in the shop and tea salon.
Pass Visites
Pass Visites entitles you to visit Caesar's Tower, Grange-au-Dim, underground galleries and the Provins Museum, as well as a guided tour, a ride on a tourist train and visits to performances on medieval theme: falconry on horseback, a knightly performance in the fortress moat and a “troubadour banquet” - a medieval feast in an old hall. You can buy a season ticket at the Tourist Office of Provins.
calendar of events
Early June: Sound and light show with 300 locals in medieval costumes.
Weekend in mid-July: Medieval feasts, street processions and performances.
Last weekend of August: Harvest Festival. This is the only Harvest festival in France, which takes place in the squares and streets of the city, as it was in the old days. A string of wagons and vintage harvesting equipment pass through the streets, locals dancing folk dances.
Gastronomy
Provins is famous for its rose-based sweets (petal jam, rose honey, rose candy, rose syrup). Try also the niflet cream puff pastries and Provencal brie.
How to get there
By train: from Gare de Paris to Gare Provins (line P, trains every hour); Navigo's special fare allows you to travel for free on weekends and holidays.
By bus: with ParisCityVision, regular service Paris-Provins-Paris (with guided tours)
Contacts
Tourist office of Provins
Chemin de Villecran, 77482 Provins
The walled city of Provins in the Seine-et-Marne department is of great architectural value.
In Provins, the atmosphere of the era of knights and feudal lords is carefully recreated. Then it was the economic capital of the counties of Champagne: there were major trade fairs connecting the north of Europe with the Mediterranean. Provins has 58 historical monuments and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2001. The medieval city is located just 80 km southeast of Paris - the journey takes about an hour.
Attractions
fortress wall. 22 towers of various shapes rise above the 1200 m long wall. The construction of the fortification lasted from 1226 to 1314.
Caesar's Tower. Donjon of the 12th century with a magnificent view of the city and the Briar fields.
grunge-o-dim. Former indoor market, now a museum dedicated to medieval fairs in Provins.
10 km underground galleries and 150 Romanesque and Gothic rooms.
Wide rectangular Place Châtel with ancient buildings of the XIII-XV centuries.
"Maison Roman". The oldest building in the city now houses the Provins Museum.
Collegiate Church of Saint-Cyrias 12th century
Rose garden. More than 300 varieties grow on the territory of 3.5 hectares, including Provencal rose. Flowering time is June. Desserts based on rose petals can be tasted in the shop and tea salon.
Pass Visites
The Pass Visites entitles you to visit Caesar's Tower, Grange aux Dimes, underground galleries and the Provins Museum, as well as guided tours, a ride on a tourist train and medieval-themed performances such as falconry on horseback, a knightly show in the moat and "banquet of the troubadours" - a medieval feast in an old hall. You can buy a season ticket at the Tourist Office of Provins.
calendar of events
Early June: Sound and light show with 300 locals in medieval costumes.
Weekend in mid-July: Medieval feasts, street processions and performances.
Last weekend of August: Harvest Festival. This is the only Harvest festival in France, which takes place in the squares and streets of the city, as it was in the old days. A line of wagons and old harvesting equipment passes through the streets, locals dance folk dances.
Gastronomy
Provins is famous for its rose-based sweets (petal jam, rose honey, rose candy, rose syrup). Try also the niflet cream puff pastries and Provencal brie.
How to get there
By train: from Gare de Paris to Gare Provins (line P, trains every hour); Navigo's special fare allows you to travel for free on weekends and holidays.
By bus: with ParisCityVision, regular service Paris-Provins-Paris (with guided tours)
Contacts
Tourist office of Provins
Chemin de Villecran, 77482 Provins
City: provence
Category: architecture
Provins is a charming Champagne town located just an hour from Paris, whose medieval architectural ensemble recognized as one of the grandest in Europe in terms of the number of monuments preserved in it. In 2001, this centuries-old fairground city was listed as a World Heritage Site. cultural heritage under the protection of UNESCO.
The first mention of Provins dates back to the beginning of the 9th century, but its heyday came in the first half of the 10th century, when important trade routes ran through the city's borders. In this regard, its old part, located on a hill and fortified with a fortress wall, became the venue for annual trade fairs, where merchants from all over Europe flocked. Local artisans were engaged in the production of woolen fabrics and durable cloth, as well as the cultivation of scarlet roses, which are very popular in our time. By the thirteenth century, the popularity of the local fairs began to decline and Provins lost its economic importance.
The historical part of Provins, which used to be the epicenter of the fair in Europe, is divided into two sections - the Upper and Lower Towns, in which, in addition to the fortified defensive wall, underground galleries used to obtain fuller's clay, as well as many merchant buildings, are perfectly preserved. The Upper Town is also interesting for the majestic Donjon Castle, which was built in 1137 and surrounded by round towers, while the Lower Town boasts old half-timbered houses for every taste, color and size.
As for the city fortifications, they abound in every possible variety of towers erected in different architectural styles. The most famous of them is the Caesar's Tower, built in the 12th century as a symbol of the military and defensive power of the Counts of Champagne. The Saint-Ayul temple, notable for its Gothic facade, and the unfinished Saint-Kiryas church, where in 1429 Joan of Arc herself attended the service along with the newly minted French monarch Charles VII, deserve special mention, as clearly evidenced by a memorial plaque placed not far from entrance.
A quick and inexpensive way to experience medieval France near Paris.
Travelers wishing to see the medieval French cities, usually head to Chartres or even further to Orléans in the Loire Valley. But it is much more convenient and faster to travel an hour by train or car to be in former capital Champagne - Provins.
In XI - XIII centuries the city, located 90 kilometers south of Paris, was the center of international trade, in which the trade routes of merchants from the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe intertwined. Provins managed to retain the charm of a rural atmosphere and French history to the present day. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has 58 historical monuments. To feel the spirit of bygone times, climb the restored fortress walls and Caesar's tower or take a walk along the cobbled streets where Thibaut IV of Champagne himself walked - a true knight, poet and hero of numerous legends. So, one of the old stories about the Count of Champagne says that he was the first to bring from crusade the famous variety of roses "Damas". 
Then, head to Tithe Barn, an indoor city market. The trade past of the city is also reminiscent of a huge cross mounted on central square. In the old days, the cross was the main " exchange office". And today there are shopping arcades where you can buy souvenirs and delicious products: from honey to mustard from roses. 
Next to the cross is a medieval well. Everyone can refresh themselves with water from the well. Or descend the underground galleries: a network of tunnels and rooms beneath the city. These places played a key role in the life of the city from the beginning of the 800s AD and 400 years after that. 
For those who are interested in spectacles, as well as for travelers with children, there are performances in the style of the Middle Ages, for example, "The Eagles of the Fortress Walls" and "The Legend of the Knights".
Tickets to visit historical buildings(Tithe Barn, Caesar's Tower, Underground Galleries and the Provins Museum) can be bought separately, or you can purchase a general ticket for 11.40 €, which also includes a visit to the Rose Garden and a trip on a tourist train. Prices for medieval shows start from 7€.
How to get and where to live in Provins
Provins is easily accessible from Paris rental car or you can use the services public transport. Get a ticket for 16 € Mobilis, which will take you to Provins for half the price of a trip to Orléans. This pass is valid throughout the Île-de-France region, including Paris, and allows you to take the metro from your hotel to the Gare de L’Est station, as well as to Provins by train. Trains leave for Gare de L'Est every hour. For those wishing to walk around the surroundings from the city, there is a regular fixed-route taxi(trip cost 4 €). 
If you decide to stay in Provins for a couple of days, then the city has several great boutique hotels, such as Aux Vieux Remparts or Demeure Des Vieux Bains, whose atmosphere and furnishings are fully consistent with your journey through time, but with all the amenities and comfort so necessary for a modern person. 
For many, a trip to Paris is a journey of a lifetime, while others manage not only to bring their wishes to life, but also, walking around the city, tell their requests and thoughts, turning to higher powers for help through statues, stones and tombstones. Continue your itinerary through gorgeous France and the city of love as you explore 10 magical places in Paris where dreams come true. The city of light, romance and love is literally saturated with magic and magic.
