by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:25th March 2025

A UNESCO Town of Medieval Fairs

Gary and I love touring France; we have been exploring many of its beautiful regions for the last three decades and always find somewhere new and inspiring to visit.

Early in 2024, we purchased our first EV, and after sneaking in a short mini-break to Normandy, we decided we wanted to fully stretch its legs and embrace the new world of EV touring through France.

Our two-week EV French road trip adventure began from the moment we jumped aboard Le Shuttle in Folkestone and headed under the English Channel. Our first destination was to Provins, an ancient UNESCO town in central northern France, located in the region of Île-de-France.

Did you catch our inspiration for this French road trip?

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Where is Provins?

How to get to Provins

- By Car
Departing from the UK to France, there are various options. You can either jump on Le Shuttle and arrive in Calais in 35 minutes or enjoy a leisurely cruise on the open waves with DFDS or P&O.

- By Air
If you’re flying into France, search for your flights in one easy place with Booking.com. This reliable travel search engine will scan for your favoured routes and chosen dates. Pre-book your hire car from Rental Cars, and your adventure begins.

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Brief history of Provins

Raise a glass to the Champagne Fairs

The ancient, fortified town of Provins is situated just 80km southeast of Paris in the Seine-et-Marne department of France. If you love historical architecture and winding cobbled lanes, you’ll adore Provins.

Many of its original fortifications and residential buildings in the Upper Town still remain from the 12th century.

A narrow street in Provins, Île-de-France, France, curves gently to the right, showcasing a mix of architectural styles. The buildings along the street feature half-timbered designs and stone facades, with decorative flags strung across the street overhead. A shop with red doors, "Le Glacier des Remparts," is visible on the right.
Provins’s historic streets
During the Middle Ages, Provins served as a prominent economic hub for the Counts of Champagne and became especially famous in France for its Medieval Fairs. The Champagne trade fairs were usually held annually at various towns throughout the County of Champagne and attracted merchants from across Europe.
A long, stone medieval wall stretches across the frame, with a dirt path running alongside it, under a cloudy sky in Provins, Île-de-France, France. The wall features a round tower at one end and crenellations along its length, with green trees visible in the distance.
Provins ramparts

During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the trade fairs were at their height, the Champagne fairs were a leading market for textiles, leather, fur, and spices. In Provins, the fortified upper area of the town, the fair would be held twice a year, in May and November, while in the lower section of Provins, the annual market was in September.

The Tithe Barn in Provins is a former covered market in Provins and depicts different scenes from the Medieval Fairs and the merchant activities from the Middle Ages.

A narrow cobblestone street in Provins, Île-de-France, France, curves gently to the right, lined with buildings of varying medieval architectural styles. The building on the right is constructed of light-colored stone with a banner hanging on its facade, while the buildings on the left feature half-timbered designs and decorative flags strung overhead.
The Tithe Barn

Provins suffered minimal damage during the French Revolution and through the Hundred Years War in the 14th and 15th centuries. Due to tax rises and the plague, Provins went into decline; however, today, the Medieval town of Provins has been exceptionally well preserved.

Many historic houses throughout the town still have their vaulted cellars intact, and there are a huge number of beautiful buildings and structures amongst the city walls for you to discover. When you visit, you’ll undoubtedly understand why Provins was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2001.

Where to stay in Provins

Hôtel Aux Vieux Remparts, The Originals Relais

The Hôtel Aux Vieux Remparts, The Originals Relais, is a peaceful hotel located in the heart of Provins’s medieval old town. Just step outside, and you’re in the beautiful square of Place du Châtel. Its rooms are very comfortable, and the staff are very welcoming,

Onsite parking is available and complimentary.

Alternatively, pop your dates in the Booking.com search box and discover further options for all budgets.

Exploring Medieval Provins

Admiring the 13th century ramparts
Provins is an absolute wonder to visit, and it’s incredible that this charming ancient town is so well-preserved. The captivating ramparts, gates and towers that encircle the timber-framed homes are breathtaking.
A wide shot of a medieval stone gate, known as Porte de Jouy, in Provins, Île-de-France, France, under an overcast sky. The gate features a large archway with a wooden barrier on top, flanked by stone walls with crenellations and a wooden fence in the foreground.
Porte de Jouy, Provins
As we stroll around the perimeter of the 1,200-metre imposing walls, we get a magnificent view of Provins’s city ramparts, which were built between 1226 and 1314. If you wish, you can also wend your way along the footpath in the dry moat.
A medieval stone gate, known as Porte Saint-Jean, stands prominently in the center of the frame in Provins, Île-de-France, France, under a cloudy sky. The gate features a large arched entrance leading into the town, with two round towers flanking the sides, and a cobblestone path extending through the archway.
Porte Saint-Jean

The ramparts are 25 metres high, and when they were originally constructed, they were 5km in length, and the remaining 1.2km envelops the upper town with its 22 towers.

Many of the different shaped towers have individual names and the two grand city gates are Porte de Jouy and Porte Saint-Jean.

A wide shot of an outdoor cafe in Provins, Île-de-France, France. Several round tables with cream-colored umbrellas provide shade for patrons seated at the cafe.
Place du Châtel
We amble back towards the centre of the Upper Town, through Porte Saint-Jean and along Rue Saint-Jean. Provins is such a charming place to stroll around; it’s very relaxed, and you feel like you’re mingling amongst the locals, young and old, in this extraordinary, preserved town.
A three-story, half-timbered building with a steeply pitched roof stands at a corner on a cobblestone street in Provins, Île-de-France, France.
La Savonnerie De La Rose
A cobblestone street in Provins, Île-de-France, France, curves slightly to the right, lined with a row of half-timbered buildings. The buildings feature a variety of colors, including red, green, and cream, with exposed dark wooden beams forming geometric patterns.
Quaint timber-framed houses

We arrive in the charming square of Place du Châtel, and it is so attractive; you are surrounded by so many timbered framed dwellings in an array of eye-catching colours. The town square is bordered by delightful old mansions dating from the 13th and 15th centuries.

The central market square is encircled with trees offering dappled shade from the French sunshine, or you could pop into a welcoming bistro. As pleasantly expected, and what we have now come to seek out in many French town is the prancing carousel.

There are so many incredible places to discover in France, so many regions, and I love planning road trips. I often use the DK Guides,

I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into searching for more

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Strolling Provins’s medieval streets

Discover the prison of César Tower

As we head through the winding lanes of Provins, we stroll towards César Tower, which is built upon a rocky spur and is one of the prominent buildings across Provins’s skyline.

The Caesar Tower is a 12th-century dungeon and would have stood as an essential mark of power for the town. Provins also commanded a high level of authority throughout this region of France during the Middle Ages.

A low-angle shot of Tour Cesar, a medieval stone tower in Provins, Île-de-France, France, under a cloudy sky. The tower, with a conical roof and smaller turrets, sits atop a stone base surrounded by a grassy slope, with two stone benches in the foreground.
César Tower, Provins
A medieval stone tower, Tour Cesar, with a conical roof and smaller turrets, stands in the background in Provins, Île-de-France, France, under a cloudy sky. The tower is partially obscured by green hedges and trees, with a paved path and a stone wall in the foreground.
Caesar Tower, from Pl. Saint-Quiriace

César Tower not only incarcerated prisoners in its turrets and dungeons, it would have also served as a valuable watchtower for incoming threats to the town.

The tower has been classified as a historical monument since 1846, and today, you can visit the ancient dungeon for just a few euros.

France Tourist Information

If you’re tempted to tour France and discover all the delightful things it has to offer, take a peek at the official French Tourism website. The local tourist offices dotted around the towns and cities provide some extremely useful information and handy pointers for around each region.

Discovering spiritual Provins

History beneath your feet

Our next stop is to the collegiate church of Saint-Quiriace, another magnificent, historic structure in the Upper Town of Provins.

The collegiate church of Saint-Quiriace dates from the 12th century, with further construction spanning several centuries until the 17th century; the dome was added in 1662. The church was never fully completed, which adds to its charm and character.

A stone church with a dome and red doors stands in the background, framed by green trees and a large metal cross in the foreground in Provins, Île-de-France, France. The church, known as Saint-Quiriace Collegiate Church, overlooks a gravel courtyard with benches, under a cloudy sky.
Collegiate church of Saint-Quiriace
The image shows the interior of Saint-Quiriace Collegiate Church in Provins, Île-de-France, France, featuring a high arched nave leading to a stained glass window at the far end. The church's architecture includes a domed ceiling with a circular window, stone arches, and a wooden pulpit on the right. Rows of wooden chairs are arranged on the floor in front of the altar.
The nave of Saint-Quiriace Church

The church of Saint-Quiriace has an attractive blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles and was really quite grand in size.

However, the plans drawn up for the church in the 12th century were on a much larger scale. Due to financial difficulties, this never came to fruition.

A stone plaque commemorating Joan of Arc is affixed to a stone wall in Provins, Île-de-France, France. The plaque features a profile portrait of Joan of Arc, the years 1429 and 1929, and text in French, marking the 500th anniversary of her visit to the basilica with King Charles VII.
 Jeanne D’Arc plaque
On the outside of the church, is a fascinating little plaque stating that on the 3rd of August 1429, Joan of Arc and Charles VII attended mass there.
The image shows the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) of Provins, Île-de-France, France, a multi-story building with a light-colored facade, decorated with flower boxes and French flags. The building features a clock at the top and a poster displayed on its front, with steps leading up to the main entrance.
Provins Town Hall
We take a stroll down to the Lower Town of Provins, which has a pleasant hustle and bustle about it. Lots of independent shops can be found, along with some lovely patisseries. Provins is a charming and colourful town with no expense spared on blooming window boxes and planters.
This is a wide shot of Saint-Ayoul Church in Provins, Île-de-France, France, featuring a large stone facade with arched doorways and a tall bell tower. The church overlooks a cobblestone square.
Priory Church of Saint-Ayoul

We amble through the streets of Provins until we reach the Priory Church of Saint-Ayoul. The origins of Saint-Ayoul’s priory date back to 996. It gradually became a place of pilgrimage, and the church was extended to allow for a greater number of visitors.

The cobbled square in front of the church held several trade fairs during the Middle Ages.

A close-up shot of the ornate arched entrance to Saint-Ayoul Church in Provins, Île-de-France, France, featuring detailed carvings above a partially open gray door. The church's facade is made of light-colored stone, and the ground in front is paved with reddish-brown cobblestones.
Entrance to the Priory Church of Saint-Ayoul
The image shows the interior of Saint-Ayoul Church in Provins, Île-de-France, France, with a central aisle leading to an altar and a wooden pulpit on the right. The church features arched ceilings, columns, and rows of wooden pews.
The nave of Saint-Ayoul Church

A fire in the mid-12th century partially destroyed the Priory Church of Saint-Ayoul; however, the church was immediately rebuilt. It successively underwent several alterations until the 16th century.

The primitive Gothic church was once again restored in the 20th century and further highlights the fantastic 18th century wooden gallery which can be seen on the western façade.

Crit'Air vignette required for driving in France

If you’re heading to France from the UK with your own vehicle, you’ll need a Crit’Air ‘clean air’ car sticker.

Just like our low-emission zones in the UK, France now legally requires the display of a Crit’Air vignette. The good news is, these stickers are readily available and affordable online through the official French government website.

The Crit’Air sticker lasts the lifetime of the vehicle, so it’s a one-off purchase. The RAC website offers an in-depth guide to everything you need to know and your requirements.

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