Provins

Provins is a fortified commune in the Seine-et-Marne region northeast of Paris, with a walled upper town and a lower town on a hillside. The site shows thirteen towers along the defensive line and a system of vaulted cellars beneath the streets of the historic center.

The settlement was mentioned in the 9th century under Carolingian rule and grew into a major fair site between the 11th and 13th centuries. In 1229 it passed into royal hands and gradually lost its economic importance after the end of international fairs.

The name derives from the Latin Praevinum and appears in medieval manuscripts as a royal minting center. Visitors today see cobbled lanes and Gothic houses that preserve the character of a fortified trading town.

The upper town sits on a hill and requires climbing cobbled paths, while the lower town is flatter and easier to navigate. Those visiting the towers should wear sturdy shoes and expect narrow spiral staircases.

Beneath the streets stretches a network of medieval limestone passages covering several kilometers, originally used as storerooms and shelters during sieges. Today mushroom cultivation takes place there under controlled conditions.

Location: Seine-et-Marne

Location: arrondissement of Provins

Elevation above the sea: 133 m

Shares border with: Rouilly, Chalautre-la-Petite, Mortery, Poigny, Saint-Brice, Sourdun, Vulaines-lès-Provins

Phone: +33164603838

Email: info@mairie-provins.fr

Website: https://mairie-provins.fr

GPS coordinates: 48.55889,3.29944

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:42