Les Souterraines (The Undergrounds) and other Provins, France Things to Do Tips

There are only few documents that illustrates the reason of their existence and their utilisation for the first time. Maybe , initially was a quarry to extract a stone necessary in the fabric manufacture.Once the galleries realized there was used for different reasons: as refuge,storage during The Fairs of Champagne and as places of reunion even by franc-masons.For visit is accessible the part under Hotel Dieu and Saint-Thibaud street

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Directions: The starting point for this visit is Hotel Dieu
Website: www.provins.net

A characteristic of houses in Provins are the lower rooms (les salles basse) with arcades and columns used as covered market during The Fairs of Champagne. La Grange is like a time machine. Visiting it you will be surrounded by the spirit of ancient times ;The large room with crossed-ribbed vaulting resting on capitals adorned with foliage it`s full of life : merchants selling their goods ,artisans working the wool ,the stone or leather, an ancient banker,a lady dressed a l`italienne.You can enjoy all this due to a very good audioquide

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Address: Rue Sain-Jean
Website: www.provins.net

It is the symbol of Provins, and a quide for the new-comer, because its shape rises over the little houses. The tower was built between 1152-1181 by Henri le Liberal and was intended as a place of refuge and a watchtower. It was the symbol of count's authority but its military role was weak. In the XIIIth century under English occupation it served as a prison.

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Address: Look above the roofs and you will see it
Directions: Upper town

There was a quiet day ,in the middle of the week when I visited Provins ,so I had the hole tower just for me.Take a walk on "Pate aux anglais"( the outer wall), visit the guard room and listen the footsteps of ancient soldiers making their round,on” chemin de ronde”.And...finally climb at the last floor to admire the XVIIth century timberwork and the "Quiriace", the huge bell dating from 1511.There is a inscription on the bell:
"En l`an 1511 ayant ete fondue
De Quiriace on me donna le nom
Je regne dans les airs et chasse de la nue
Diable,tonnerre et grele par mon nom".
The view over the city is great: at the east, the lower town, at the west: the upper town

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Directions: Upper town

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