The Visitors Center: start your visit here! and other Provins, France Things to Do Tips

The Visitors Center is professional, American style. All brochures, offers and guided visits are in several languages.
To have an idea of all the must sees in town: ask to switch on the introducing video show in the movie theatre before starting your visit.

When leaving this place through the back door... it's like stepping out of a time machine. The ramparts are a few steps away.

Also available in the visitors center's shop: souvenirs such as tiles, umbrellas, place mats, sweets an typical specialities of the region.

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Address: Acces East of the Medieval town: large parking lot
Directions: - Autoroute (Motorway) A4 (Paris - Metz/Strasbourg) Sortie (exit) n°13 " Serris", follow direction " Provins" along the road D 231.

This impressive fortified wall was built during the 13th century. 2 km of military architecture!
Once, these walls protected the inhabitants and the traders and showed off the power of the Earls of Champagne.

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This tower used to be a be a watchtower, a prison, a bell-tower and a place of military retreat. The keep offers a panoramic view over the town and it's surroundings.

The bells are still hanging in the tower and make lots of noise now and then.

Warning: lots of stairs and very, very narrow passages to the upper floor. Not adviced for overweight persons!

The tower is interesting but not exceptional. I thought the price of 3,40 euros for a self guided visit was way too high.

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This former covered market place is nowadays a museum. It shows a permanent exhibition of scenes and characters, showing hand crafts and merchant activities of the Middle Ages.
Audio guided visit with earphone.

It's a quite static affair, but what a beautiful building!!! Ans what a remarkable cellar!
No one could guess what is hidden behind this barn's front.

Rating: interesting for adults, boring for kids.

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Address: rue St-Jean

The limy soil of Provins was a perfect dirth to scour the Medieval wool. So the whole town has been excavated underneath the existing house cellars.

During history, the excavated galleries have been used for different purposes, such as hiding places, store rooms, dark gateries etc. Especially this last activity of course drew my attention.
Strange inscriptions, names and mysterious words in Medieval handwriting brighten up the whole thing.

Foresee a warm sweater. The caves are veeeery cold and humid.

We were not allowed to take photograps in the galleries. I picked this one from the Provins Tourism site.

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Website: http://www.provins.net/anglais/_private/F_monuments.htm

There are several shows around the ramparts. We only watched this one (50 minutes)
Nice for kids.

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Little plaza with restaurants, cafés, terraces and shops.
Nothing special to see, just cosy. Quite busy at noon. (dinner time)

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We jumped in for a look.
The area is very quiet.

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