Paris Day Trips: Provins | Paris Logue

by Jessica

You know what a good qualification for a day-trip destination from Paris is? When that destination is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Even if you’re not one of those people who’s “collecting” UNESCO sites as you travel, it still tells you something about the place that UNESCO thinks its worthy of being on the list. Such is the case with the town of Provins, which is a great day-trip from Paris.

The name of the UNESCO site is Provins, Town of Medieval Fairs - which should give you some indication of why the town is worth visiting. The town was host to one of the so-called “Champagne fairs” which took place regularly throughout the year in the 12th and 13th centuries in the regions of Champagne and Brie. These were trading fairs, which may sound quaint today, but back then they were vital to the country’s economy - and, indeed, the economic development of Europe.

Much of the town itself was built to host the fairs, so even though the fairs are no longer going on, there are still medieval sights - including well-preserved city walls and a tower.

The medieval fortifications in Provins, built when the town was experiencing its heydey in the 12th and 13th centuries as the location for one of the top trading fairs in the area, are in remarkably good condition today and are the highlight of a trip to Provins.

The medieval tower, called Caesar’s Tower, is the high point of a visit to Provins - literally and figuratively - in that it towers above the historic town center and, once you climb it, gives you a commanding view of the town and the surrounding countryside as well. It was built in the 12th century and has been used as a watchtower, bell tower, and even a prison.

The city walls, dating from the 13th century, are another historic highlight of a Provins visit. A visit to the Tithe Barn (once a covered market) will give you an idea of what life was like during the Middle Ages, as it’s something of a museum dedicated to Provins in the “Champagne fairs” era. There is a Provins Museum in a 12th century house in the town, which will give you a sense of the town’s and region’s history from long before those trading fairs put Provins on the map.

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