Troyes, Administrative center in Grand Est, France
Troyes is a town on the Seine in the Grand Est region featuring narrow lanes lined with timber-framed houses from different periods. The old quarter unfolds around several churches whose towers rise above the rooftops, serving as reference points in the street network.
The settlement emerged in ancient times and grew into a trade center during the Middle Ages when cloth fairs drew merchants from all over Europe. A fire in 1524 destroyed large sections, which were rebuilt afterward in stone and timber frame.
Many half-timbered houses display painted beams and carvings attributed to craftsmen from the 15th and 16th centuries. Several facades carry signs indicating guilds that once operated workshops in these narrow lanes.
The old town can be explored on foot since most attractions are close together and linked by pedestrian zones. Weekends and summer holidays bring more visitors into the lanes, especially around the factory outlets.
From the cathedral tower you can see the shape of the old town, which resembles a champagne cork outlined by the street layout. This arrangement is not planned but emerged through the natural growth of the settlement along the riverbanks.
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