Location: Provins
Top Things to do in Provins
What to do and see in Provins, Ile-de-France: The Best Free Things to do
French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Restaurants in Provins
1. Beer Town
2. Le Roy Lire
3. The Saint-Jean's Gate and The Ramparts
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 217 reviews
These magnificent structures, which are currently being restored, were built in the 13th century. Growing as the city grew, they protected and surrounded, in the Middle Ages, the entire city of Provins. Today we can admire a beautiful part, and the complexity of the towers, which each have a different shape. Two fortified gates are still visible: the Saint-Jean gate, with its two almond-shaped towers, which defended the old Paris Road; and the Jouy gate, once surmounted by a bell, a small keep with a bell, which made it possible to watch out for the enemy and warn in case of danger.
Reviewed By rittcastillo - Copenhagen, Denmark
These splendid fortified walls built in13th century are really very impressive. The gate’s purpose with its two almond-shaped towers, was to ensure protection of the old road to Paris. Walk alongside these walls and feel the medieval atmosphere of the town. You can also get on top of the wall and enjoy the great view of the town and the fields surrounding the town.
4. Cite Medievale de Provins
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 69 reviews
A medieval town close to Paris that you can visit all year round ! During the 12th and 13th centuries, Provins is at the height of its fame thanks to the famous Trade Fairs of Champagne. The urban structure is organised to accommodate the great number of wholesalers: the wide streets for the transfer of goods and for the stalls, the three level merchant’s houses with sumptuous vaulted low rooms... The impressive fortified wall was built during the 13th century and extended for 5 km (today 1,2 km), and it offers a catalogue of military architecture. Those ramparts showed off the power of the Earls of Champagne. Provins is a real showcase of medieval architecture (military, religious and civil) and it is one of the few towns in France that can boast of over fifty listed Monuments with historical value. Thus, Provins was inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List on December 2001.
Reviewed By dbaaronson - Asheville, United States
Visited as a day trip from Paris and really enjoyed the town and its well-preserved medieval locations. Everything is very walkable from the train station.
5. Eglise Saint-Quiriace
6. Office de Tourisme de Provins
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 135 reviews
The Tourist Office proposes a welcome area: landscaped esplanade, sheltered picnic area, park and adventure playground for children, 2 camper areas and toilets. Our tourist agents can provide you with information about all tours and activities. New: visit Provins and and its sourroundings thanks to a free app (available in English and Spanish)! You can also discover the Provins region with interactive boards and quizzes, admire a scale model of Provins and enjoy an audiovisual presentation of the town's history. Souvenir shop, Pass Card sales, tourist train stop and post office.
Reviewed By Tejas104 - Paris, France
They looked happy to see people walk up to them and speak with them. This felt like a welcome change from Paris where tourists are taken for granted. By all means, do Provins. The lady over there explained everything so nicely to me. Although I had gone prepared after reading reviews about Provins on tripadvisor, which are mostly positive and deservedly so, the way the staff explained everything to me, I could have managed my time equally well even without any preparation. The town is small. It can be covered on foot. For the elderly or disabled there is a nice mini train. The town is peaceful and its history not very difficult to grasp. To each his own. Many tourists like tower of Cesar. I liked it too. But the best to my eyes was Collegiate church right in front of the tower. Provins has virtually no crowd! Far from the shoulder-rubbing touristy crowds in popular European destinations, this town gives you relief. It is serene. Many tourists have written about how calm they felt here and I totally agree with them. TIPS: Reach early. Preferably by 11:00 am you should be in the town. *PLEASE check the timings with SNCF * but as per my knowledge as of today (15/8/2018), there is one train every hour at 46th minute from Gare de l'est that goes all the way to Provins (SNCF line P). So you should be catching a train at 9:46 am ideally which will get you to Provins at about 11:15. In the return direction too there is a train every hour at 46th minute. Tourism office is a little far from SNCF station but there are sign boards that will take you there. Buy Provins museum pass. It costs 12 Euro per adult. It covers underground tunnels, Provins Musuem, Tithe Barn and Cesar Tower. In my view it is worth the money. The pass is valid for one year. But one could enter a point of attraction only once in that year with the pass. If one lives in Paris or near by town, this means that he/she can space his/her multiple visits around a year and cover one or two of the four attractions at ease. Wonderful! The pass also gets you marginal discount on other things like the little train, the medieval shows etc. Navigo transport pass works if it covers zone5. It is a 1.5 hours journey on a pretty fast train. Yet Navigo covers it. Amazing! Loungeville which is a few kms before Provins, is also a good point to stop. There is a nice railway museum there.
