Provins: Incredible Day Trip to Medieval Gem from Paris

Paris, the city itself has so much to offer in terms of sights and experiences. Yet it is worthwhile to take day trips from Paris to the nearby castles, palaces and forts. This post is on my journey to Provins.

If you are planning to visit Paris, plan your itinerary to include some day trips to nearby attractions of Paris. Plan for road trips and zip off and enjoy the sights. I planned mine to Provins and Fontainebleau Palace. Provins is Unesco World Heritage site since 2001.

Day Trip to Provins from Paris

After touring Fontainebleau palace we headed for the World Heritage Site, Provins. The city prospered in 12th and 13th centuries, under the Counts of Champagne, with its wool industry and its trading fairs. The route from google maps, that we covered while on a day tour from Paris.

Road trip to Provins from Paris

Road trip to Provins from Paris Google Map

Provins is less crowded, a huge contrast just 50 miles away from the commercialized Paris! Loitering there, it was fun to imagine living back in medieval times. We spent time doing a walking tour, visited a beautiful church and the Caesar’s tower.

Luckily we had the car and so drove up the steep hill to the old city of Provins. On the way we saw some tourists making their way up on foot.

There is a little train that goes around the old town, you need to pay once and use it for the rest of the day. The city is virtually untouched; part of undamaged city walls can be seen.

This is the view from Caesar’s tower. Once upon a time this tower functioned as watch tower, prison, bell tower and also as a place of military retreat. The view is breath taking!

A lone window in the tower; I liked how the creepers grew around it, reminding me of the fairy tale ‘Sleeping Beauty’.

Provins was a pleasant experience. The weather that day was absolutely fantastic and the shot below is one of the sights I took as we did the walking tour.

Enchanting little town, it seemed as if time here is stuck some time at medieval era. Every street is dotted with pretty wooden homes, historic buildings and little eateries.

Even if you are doing your self guided tour of Provins, it is advisable to visit the Tourism Office, pick up route maps with major landmarks and passes to enter the museums.

Below is the picture of Saint Quiriace Collegiate church from Caesar’s tower. It was constructed in the 17th century. Visible from miles away, the church is lit every evening at dusk and is believed to be a magnificent sight. Pity I couldn’t stay back that long to see it myself.

I zoomed into the dome with my 18-200mm lens.

Getting to Provins

It was easy for us to reach Provins from Paris as we were self driving. You can avail train services too. There are trains to Provins at hourly intervals from Paris.

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