A medieval fair town

Provins, a unique testimony 

Provins is an exceptionally complete and perfectly preserved example of a west European commercial medieval city having retained its original urban structure.

Curiously positioned away from the main Gallo-Roman roads, the rocky spur, an exceptional defensive site and starting point for the development of the City of Provins in the 11th century, did not escape the notice of the Counts of Champagne. These latter also made the fullest use possible of the marshlands lower down at the confluence of the Voulzie and the Durteint. The Upper Town (or Châtel) and Lower Town (or Val) bipole developed rapidly. As early as the 13th century, the marshes were drained and the upper and lower town soon became one. This residential development, with its narrow and often twisting roads, most of which have retained their original names, and its extraordinary network of waterways earning it the epithet «Little Venice» by the romantics, is without doubt the most beautiful example of a west European medieval commercial city. In both the Upper Town and the Lower Town, it is possible to see houses belonging to merchants from all over Europe and the Orient, the inns where they ate, the vaulted cellars where they stored their goods. 

A toponymical study allows us to situate the districts regrouping the different activities or nationalities - Rue de la Friperie, Rue de la Foire-aux-Chevaux, Ruelle aux Foins, Ruelle des Teinturiers, Rue aux Allemands, Rue Hollande. 

Provins, a showcase of 12th and 13th century civilian, religious and military architecture.

Provins is one of the few French towns to possess such a wealth (55 in number) of classified or listed Historical Monuments, so well-preserved, from this period of history. The town contains   number of typical, characteristic constructions, such as the vaulted cellars. Most monuments date from periods ranging from the 11th to the 15th century. The urban perimeter has remained the same as when it was first marked out in the 13th century and the medieval curtain wall is still largely visible. The site has been spared the showy 19th century neo-medieval restoration undergone by many cities of the same era, much of whose authenticity was destroyed in the process, and has been simply consolidated.

The heritage of Provins 
Military architecture






The ramparts : The existing curtain wall, which contributes to the renown of Provins, owes its existence to Count Thibaut IV who began its construction towards 1230. The wall, the result of a series of architects’ plans and processes, was 5 km long. By comparison, the curtain wall at Dinan measured only 2.5 km, and those at Guérande and Aigues-Mortes 1.5 km and 1.6 km respectively. 
Caesar’s Tower : Built atop a rocky spur, the tower protects the former palace of the counts and dominates the Valley. It was a genuine symbol of power for the counts of Champagne, who built the tower in the 12th century. The keep represented a new type of construction, not only defensive but also a powerful symbol.
Not to be missed : Tour aux Engins (Engine Tower), Porte Saint-Jean (St. Jean Gate), Porte de Jouy (Jouy Gate), Tour aux pourceaux (Swine Tower), Poterne Fanerons (Fanerons Postern).

Civilian architecture
Vaulted cellars : Each more beautiful than the last, the cellars were used for storing goods (150 are listed). The underground passages were originally designed as quarries for extracting the clay used to degrease wool. It should be remembered, in this connection, that Provins was a celebrated cloth-making city, widely renowned for the production of «ners», a woollen cloth.








Private dwellings : The town has a remarkable collection of civilian constructions. Most houses are organised on 3 levels: the basement area (vaulted) used for storage, the ground floor used for trade and the first floor, which comprised living quarters.

Grange aux Dîmes (Tithe Barn) : A  typical example of a merchant’s residence and one of the most lovingly preserved of its kind in Provins.

Maison Romane (Romanesque House) : The house today contains the Museum and is the oldest example of a civilian construction built entirely of stone in the 12th century. 
Not to be missed : Counts’ Palace, Place du Châtel, Maison des Petits Plaids, Hôtel Dieu, Hôtel de Vauluison, Hôtel de la Croix d’or, Hôtel de la Buffette, Caveau du Saint-Esprit (Cellar of the Holy Spirit), Maison du Bourreau (Hangman’s House). 

Religious architecture
Saint-Quiriace collegiate church : Works began on the choir in the second half of the 12th century and on the transept and the beginning of the nave in the 13th century. This impressive collegiate church was to remain unfinished due to lack of funds.
Saint-Ayoul church : Built in the early 11th century, the church underwent a face-lift in the 12th century following a fire. It was refurbished on many occasions, thus adding to its charm. Its façade and gateway make it one of the finest examples of early Gothic sculpture.
Sainte-Croix church : Dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, this charming church underwent a few modifications in the 16th century and was later adorned with a remarkable Renaissance doorway.
Not to be missed : Tour Notre-Dame-du-Val, Couvent des Cordelières.

A comparative  study 

Comparison with other fair towns :
Of the four fair towns (the others being Troyes, Bar-sur-Aube, Lagny), Provins, by far and away the most important on an economic level, is the only one to have preserved its constructions, its authenticity and its 13th century urban plan intact.

Comparison with other fortified towns
It has been spared the ravages of modern urbanisation and industrialisation, unlike many towns, such as Bruges. 

The curtain wall of Provins, one of the biggest in Europe, has remained intact and has only undergone consolidation works.

Comparison with other medieval towns
Unlike many sites, the entire perimeter of Provins is a classified historical monument, not just the historic city centre.

Heritage promotion policy 

Several years ago, the town council began a vast programme to publicise the town’s potential as a tourist destination, by renovating and promoting its historic heritage and organising events, all the while being careful not to change the character of town. For nearly 30 years, the town’s heritage has undergone one restoration project after another: the ramparts, Caesar’s Tower, the Tithe Barn and the old houses.

A number of historic spectacles have sprung up since 1993: birds of prey in free flight, medieval war machinery, knights’ tournaments, all of which are based on a scrupulous concern for history and the evocation of feudal life. Prosper Mérimée classified Provins as a Historic Monument in 1875. Now, in 2001, the French Ministry of culture and heritage includes Provins in the list of «Towns and Regions of Art and History». Today, Provins welcomes over 500,000 visitors a year and many school groups.