A Day in Provins

Not Provence, although I’d love to spend a day there. Actually, a lot more than a day. But Provins is a medieval town about an hour from Paris, complete with still-standing city walls and forts.

 

The ancient part of the city is in the upper section, accessible via a long walk up an inclined street or by bus from the train station. As I didn’t realize there was a bus, I, of course, took the long walk. Most of the attractions can be done rather quickly, so a day trip is all you need. I was kinda bored by the museum. There was no English and no guide so I got through it pretty quickly. But the house itself dates back to the 12th century.

Much more interesting was the Tithe Barn, which was used as a typical covered market in the 13th century. It’s small (and has some tricky steps) but it gives you a taste of how various merchants plied their wares. To make it easier, you are given an audio guide upon entry.

Of course, what’s a French town without it’s imposing cathedral:

And I happened to be there for the annual Gastronomy Fair, which was free to enter. Here, there was all kinds of gourmet foods, from cheeses to artisan chocolates, to beers (Brooklyn Beer!), to gluten-free macarons. Lots of great tastes. And, yes, the gluten-free macarons were pretty good.