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A Great Day Trip from Paris to Medieval Provins

December 1, 2019 by Claire Filed Under: Europe, France 5 Comments

Why the Medieval City of Provins makes a great day trip from Paris

With an easy connection from London, Paris is somewhere I love to return to. While I enjoy exploring Paris it’s also fun to explore nearby areas. One place that doesn’t seem to get enough recognition is the Medieval city of Provins which is a shame as it makes a great day trip from Paris.

 

- Contents

  • 1 A Brief History of Provins
  • 2 How to Get to Provins from Paris
    • 2.1 Getting to Provins by Train
    • 2.2 Getting to Provins by Car
  • 3 Things to do in Provins
    • 3.1 The Provins Pass
    • 3.2 Ramparts and Fortified Gates
    • 3.3 The Tour César
    • 3.4 Saint-Quiriace Collegiate Church
    • 3.5 The Underground Tunnels
    • 3.6 Museum of Provins
    • 3.7 Le Roserale de Provins
    • 3.8 The Tithe Barn
  • 4 Where to Eat in Provins
  • 5 Where to Stay in Provins
  • 6 Tips for Your Trip to Provins
  • 7 Plan Your France Itinerary

A Brief History of Provins

Provins is a small Medieval city in the Il-de-France region known for its medieval fortifications and well preserved city walls. In the Middle Ages it was one of the most famous towns in France where annual trade fairs, known as Champagne Fairs, were held. It was at these trade fairs that brought northern Europe into contact with the Mediterranean.

With its stunning Medieval architecture and the well preserved city walls, Provins proudly became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.

 

How to Get to Provins from Paris

Provins is only 48 miles (80 kilometres) south east of Paris so it makes a great day trip. There are a couple of different ways to get to Provins from Paris, all of which are easy, direct routes to take.

 

Getting to Provins by Train

Provins is easy to get to from Paris by train. With a direct route from Paris EST, it only takes 1 hour and 20 minutes to get there.

Trains to Provins leave Gare de l’Est every hour on the SNCF Transilien Line P with the first train leaving at 6:46am. Provins is within Zone 5 of the transport zone so train fares are included within the Paris Visite zone 1-5 travel card. If you only have the zone 1-3 travel card the train fare will cost €12 each way.

Trains back to Paris Gare de l’Est also run once an hour until late in the evening so plenty of time to make the most out of your time there.The train station at Provins - the best way to get to Provins from Paris is by train

 

Getting to Provins by Car

The route to Provins from Paris is pretty straight forward by car. The journey takes roughly the same time by car as it does by train. Depending on how clear the roads are you may get there as quickly as 1 hour and 10 minutes but if there’s traffic it could take up to 1 hour and 50 minutes.

 

Things to do in Provins

The Provins Pass

With a Provins Pass you can save money on some museums and monuments as well as get discounted prices for shows. The Pass will get you free access to the Caesar’s Tower, the Tithe Barn, the Underground Galleries and the Provins Museum.

The Provins pass costs €11 for adults and €7.50 for children up to 12 years. You can also buy a family pass (2 adults and 2 children) for €34.50. What’s great about the pass is that is last for a whole year from the date purchased so you have some flexibility if you decide to visit on a different day. 

 

Ramparts and Fortified Gates

The first thing you will notice when approaching Provins are the ramparts and fortified gates once used to protect the city. While not all of the former wall is standing, 1.2 kilometres and two gates have survived for almost 800 years.

It is definitely worth taking the time to walk around the ramparts to truly appreciate how magnificent they are. Thanks to the steps you can walk down in the ditches to truly get a sense of how tall they are. Plus what’s also great is that in certain areas you can even climb the ramparts.

 

The Tour César

The Tour César or Caesar’s Tower in English, was built in the 12th Century and is the symbol of the Medieval city of Provins.

Caesar's Tower or Tour César - one of the best things to do in Provins, France

The Big Tower has served as a watchtower and also a prison. Now it’s the best place to go for fantastic aerial views of Provins and the surrounding area.

Entrance to the Caesar Tower is included in the Pass Provins. If you don’t buy the pass in advance tickets cost €4.30 for adults and €2.80 for children up to 12 years old.

Enjoying the stunning views from on top of Caesar's Tower in Provins while taking a day trip from Paris

 

Saint-Quiriace Collegiate Church

Opposite the Tour César you’ll find the Saint-Quiriace Collegiate Church. This 12th Century church is dedicated to Saint Quiriace or Cyriaque of Jerusalem.

Saint-Quiriace Collegiate Church - a great church to explore when taking a day trip to Provins

 

The Underground Tunnels

While the true purpose of the underground tunnels of Provins remains a mystery to this day, the tunnels go on for many kilometres under the city.

Today, the tunnels can be visited in the summer months by guided tours. The tours for French and English are at different times so make sure to check the timetable for the tour in your desired language.

Tours of the underground tunnels are roughly 45 minutes long and are included in the Pass Provins. If you don’t buy the pass in advance tickets cost €4.50 for adults and €3 for children up to 12 years old.

 

Museum of Provins

Located in ‘Maison Romane’, one of the oldest civil building, is the Museum of Provins. Inside you’ll find a collection of exceptional treasures from archaeological excavations done in Provins and the surrounding area.

Entrance to the museum is included in the Pass Provins. If you don’t buy the pass in advance tickets cost €4 for adults and €2 for children up to 12 years old.

 

Le Roserale de Provins

The Rose Garden of Provins should not be missed when visiting Provins, especially if you come in the summer. The garden tells the story of the rose through more than 450 varieties of rose trees.

Entrance to the garden is free for children under 12 years old. For adults the price is €4.50 in Autumn / Winter and €7 in Spring / Summer. If you’ve purchased a Provins Pass the Spring / Summer price is reduced to €6.50.

 

The Tithe Barn

This former merchant’s house from the 13th Century is one of the best preserved buildings in Provins. The tithe barn is now home to a pertinent exhibition representing merchants and trades of the Middle Ages. With the audio guided tour you’ll learn about the cloth merchant, the craft of wool, the public writer and more.

Entrance to the Tithe Barn is included in the Pass Provins. If you don’t buy the pass in advance tickets cost €4.30 for adults and €2.80 for children up to 12 years old.

Exploring the medieval city of Provins - a great day trip from Paris

 

Where to Eat in Provins

With all that exploring you’ll no doubt be wanting a great place for a rest and some good local French food. To get a great feel of the area the best place to go for food is the Place du Châtel, the main square. Here you’ll find plenty of local restaurants, cafes and sweet eateries to chose from where you can watch the world pass you by. 

 

Where to Stay in Provins

While a trip to Provins makes a great day trip from Paris, if you want to make the most out of your visit why not book a hotel for the night and make it a two day trip.

Le Cesar Hotel – If you’re looking for a hotel with the best location than look no further. This elegant 4 star hotel has a 24 hour front desk, breakfast buffet, a spa and is pet friendly. Check here for price and availability

Ibis Hotel – Situated at the entrance of Provins, the Ibis Hotel is a great choice for those looking for a familiar hotel. Check here for price and availability

Demeure des Vieux Bains – If you prefer to stay at B&B’s rather than hotels this might be the perfect option for you. With a beautiful garden and terrace you can really relax here. Check here for price and availability

For more hotels in Provins click here. For AirBnb options click here.

 

Tips for Your Trip to Provins

  • Do check train times in advance to make sure they are running
  • Do get the Provins Pass if you’re planning on seeing all 4 historical sites
  • Make sure to wear sensible shoes you can comfortably walk around all day in
  • It’s worth getting an early train to give yourself longer in town
  • Or better, turn this into a 2 day trip so you can enjoy the city at night
  • The Underground Tunnels have limited tours in English so check ahead to make sure you don’t miss out

 

Plan Your France Itinerary

Looking for more amazing places to see in France? Why not check out some of these

  • Places To Visit in Northern France
  • Wine Tasting in Corsica
  • 35 Books Set in France
  • Famous Bridges in Europe
  • 125 Cool Things to do in Europe

 

 

Like this post? Don’t forget to pin the below image

A Guide to why the Medieval City of Provins makes a great day trip from Paris, how to get there, plus what to do and see while you're there

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links which means I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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35 Incredible Books Set in France to Inspire Your Next Trip
12 Best Places To Visit In Northern France
A Guide to Zamosc, Poland’s hidden delight

Comments

  1. Ana says

    May 4, 2021 at 6:05 pm

    Hi there – thanks for this. Super informative. Do you need to buy train tickets in advance or can you just show up at the station, pay your fare and go? Thanks! Planning (fingers crossed) for a short trip this August.

    Reply
  2. Sue says

    July 11, 2021 at 3:14 am

    I had never heard of this town, but it definitely sounds like a great day trip from Paris!

    Reply
  3. Glo says

    July 11, 2021 at 7:08 pm

    I love medieval towns i like how quaint provins looks. It’s great to have this option for a day trip from Paris

    Reply
  4. Gloria says

    July 12, 2021 at 7:42 pm

    Awesome information and beautiful photos. The tunnels sound super interesting and it’s great that you can buy a pass that covers all 4 historical sites!

    Reply
  5. cRISTINA says

    July 13, 2021 at 8:39 pm

    I had never heard of Provins, but I loved discovering this place by reading your blog. I am saving it for future trips to France 🙂 Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

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