PROVINS, FRANCE. MEDIEVAL TOWN.

Описание: Provins France:
12 Outstanding Reasons To Visit This Medieval Town.

Provins France is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in France with its ramparts and city walls, built between the 11th and 13th centuries, and its winding streets lined with half-timbered houses.

Have you heard of the Counts of Champagne? Provins France was the economic capital of the Counts of Champagne. Its strategic position made it a centre for trading fairs drawing merchants from far and wide in the XI and XII centuries. Provins became a wealthy centre with its speciality in trading wool and one of the most well-known towns in France.

Outstanding – non?!

1. Wander The Upper And Lower Town In Provins France

Enter Provins France through one of the towering gates and meander down the cobblestone streets past the ancient half-timbered buildings. For me, there is a calmness and innate curiosity that comes from wandering along the same streets as the wool merchants from centuries ago.

2. Delight In The Rose Garden

Roses abound in Provins France. All colours. Hundreds of types. The scent carries you along, inviting you to discover The Rose Garden (La Roseraie de Provins). Here you can relax in the tea room and wander the glorious gardens.

3. Sit In Place du Châtel In Provins France

The old well, the simple cross, and the charming ancient buildings that surround this main square of Provins France make it the perfect place to sit awhile. Better yet, grab a galette from Brittany (there are two such restaurants) and a glass of champagne (you are close to champagne country, after all) and picnic in Place du Châtel imagining the trading that would have occurred here years ago.

4. Walk The Ramparts In Provins France

Be sure to climb the stairs by the fortified gate of Porte Saint-Jean and walk the parts of the ramparts that still exist and are accessible. Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, the ramparts were five kilometres long and 25 metres high. The views are wonderful and once again it doesn’t take much to spark your imagination around how they were once used.

Be sure to wander down into the moat area, which at the time of visiting in the spring of 2020 was inaccessible due to a restoration project.

5. Visit Tour César (Caesar’s Tower)

Le Tour César a fortified tower from the 12th century, looms over Provins France with its unmistakable square base, octagonal tower and pyramid shaped roof. Over the centuries, Le Tour César has been used as a prison and lookout tower.

Since 1693, Le Tour César has served as the bell tower for Saint Quiriace Collegiate Church.

The sweeping views from all sides of the tower are said to be fabulous. Unfortunately as I was there at the beginning of déconfinement, it was not possible to climb Le Tour César in Provins.

6. Explore Collégiale Saint-Quiriace

Saint-Quiriace collegiate church from the 12th century is a mix of Romanesque, Gothic and Classic styles. The nave of the church was to extend all the way to the cross that is shown in the photograph. But with the decline of the Champagne trading fairs, the construction of the church was stopped. Both the exterior and the interior of the church are unfinished. There is a bricked up rose window and the façades are unadorned.

Joan of Arc attended mass here in 1429.

7. Tour The Underground Tunnels In Provins France

Hidden under the houses and winding medieval streets of Provins are kilometres of vaulted tunnels and passageways. The tours of the underground tunnels (Les Souterrains de Provins) are very popular. Be sure to book in advance and look specifically for the tours in English.

8. Provins France | See Maison Romane

The Maison Romane is one of the oldest buildings in Provins. This Romanesque house from the 11th century is the Museum of Provins.

9. Walk Under Tour Notre Dame du Val

The Tower of Notre-Dame-du-Val is a bell tower and was once an entrance into the city. Find this tower in the lower town of Provins France.

10. Find The Medieval Bookstore In Provins France

Le Roi Lire is a bookstore specializing in the Middle Ages. If this is an area of interest for you, you will be in paradise browsing the 5000 titles available. The bonus? The bookstore is set in one of the underground vaulted rooms!

11. Attend Provin’s Annual Medieval Festival

Every June Provins hosts its renowned medieval festival. This popular festival recreates everyday life in medieval times with fairs, games, music and the costume of the day.

The 37th Annual Medieval Festival (Les Médiéveles de Provins) was to have taken place on June 13 and 14, 2020. It was cancelled due to the coronavirus.

The next Annual Medieval Festival in Provins France will take place on June 25 and 26, 2022.

12. Savour The Specialty Of Provins France

Niflettes.These small tarts are unique to Provins France and the surrounding area of Seine et Marne. This deluxe Provins France specialty is a puff pastry tart filled with pastry cream.







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