Place du Preau, Park in the city center of Troyes, France
Place du Préau is a small public park in the center of Troyes, a city in the Grand Est region of France. It sits along the Haute-Seine canal, with flat paths, trees, and open grassy areas spread across a compact space.
This site once held the palace of the Counts of Champagne, built around the 12th century. After its demolition in the early 19th century, the land served as a timber port along the canal before being turned into a public garden around 1900.
The name "Préau" refers to an open courtyard or yard attached to a building or community, which reflects how this site was once used. Today, residents of Troyes come here to sit on benches, watch the canal nearby, or simply walk through during the day.
The park is open year-round and its flat paths make it easy to visit for people with reduced mobility. Dogs are welcome, and paid parking is available nearby for those arriving by car.
In the Middle Ages, part of this site was known as the "Préau aux duels", a space set aside for judicial combat where each party in a dispute sent a champion to fight on their behalf. The outcome was seen as a judgment from God, making this ordinary-looking ground a stage for a now-forgotten form of justice.
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