14 Activities
Medieval Castles to the East from Paris
Starts from
Paris
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Activities
14
Duration
10 hrs 40 min
Length
54 mi
Route details
Starts from
Paris
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Duration
10 hrs 40 min
Length
54 mi
Sarah Dawalibi
Blogger
- Visit the medieval city of Provins.
- Discover the castle of Brie-Comte-Robert.
- Have dinner in a Guinguette by the river Marne.
Get ready for a wonderful journey back to the Middle Ages, only an hour away from Paris. You will first discover the medieval city of Provins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located on the ancient lands of the Earls of Champagne, it used to be a rich merchant town. You will be delighted by its imposive fortified walls and its charming timber-framed houses.
Then, your next stop will be Brie-Comte-Robert, the historical capital of the Brie region, featuring a beautiful heritage from its medieval past. You will discover the Brie-Comte-Robert castle and Saint-Etienne church, both off the beaten track of Paris region.
Then, your next stop will be Brie-Comte-Robert, the historical capital of the Brie region, featuring a beautiful heritage from its medieval past. You will discover the Brie-Comte-Robert castle and Saint-Etienne church, both off the beaten track of Paris region.
Categories
Get ready for a wonderful journey back to the Middle Ages, only an hour away from Paris. You will first discover the medieval city of Provins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located on the ancient lands of the Earls of Champagne, it used to be a rich merchant town. You will be delighted by its imposive fortified walls and its charming timber-framed houses.
Then, your next stop will be Brie-Comte-Robert, the historical capital of the Brie region, featuring a beautiful heritage from its medieval past. You will discover the Brie-Comte-Robert castle and Saint-Etienne church, both off the beaten track of Paris region.
Then, your next stop will be Brie-Comte-Robert, the historical capital of the Brie region, featuring a beautiful heritage from its medieval past. You will discover the Brie-Comte-Robert castle and Saint-Etienne church, both off the beaten track of Paris region.
Sarah Dawalibi
Blogger
- Visit the medieval city of Provins.
- Discover the castle of Brie-Comte-Robert.
- Have dinner in a Guinguette by the river Marne.
Day Itinerary
14 Activities
Day 1
51 mi3 mi
Visit of Provins and Brie-Comte-Robert
On this one-day road trip, you will drive across the "Seine-et-Marne" district, almost to the limits of "Ile-de-France" region. That's a journey you can do all over the year, but during the low season, some places might be closed, especially on week days.
Provins is hosting many medieval festivals and historical exhibitions. If you want to attend one of them, you can check the schedule on this website.
Provins is hosting many medieval festivals and historical exhibitions. If you want to attend one of them, you can check the schedule on this website.
Car Park
Parking
Open Details
You have arrived in Provins. You can park your car easily at the entrance of the medieval city, where you're going to see historic fortified walls, watch tower, Benedictine church, and have a traditional lunch.
0.4 mi
10 min
The Walls of Provins
Castle
Open Details
Start your visit with a walk on the 25-meter-high ramparts belt, protecting the city in the Middle Ages. This impressive fortified wall demonstrates the power of the Earls of Champagne at that time. Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, it used to be a 5 km long ring, but today, there is only 1.2 km left around the upper town.
You can walk up the ramparts at one of the remaining fortified gates, "Porte Saint-Jean", and walk down back to the city at "Porte de Jouy".
You can walk up the ramparts at one of the remaining fortified gates, "Porte Saint-Jean", and walk down back to the city at "Porte de Jouy".
0.5 mi
10 min
La Tour César
Historic Site
Open Details
The Cesar Tower is the emblematic landmark of Provins. This 12th-century construction used to be a prison, a watchtower and a refuge. Today it houses the bells of the Saint-Quiriace church. Inside, you will be able to admire its somptuous 17th-century roof structure and its beautiful vaulted guards' room.
After climbing up all the steep and narrow stairs, you will enjoy an amazing view on Provins and its surrounding countryside.
After climbing up all the steep and narrow stairs, you will enjoy an amazing view on Provins and its surrounding countryside.
0.7 mi
15 min
Saint-Ayoul Church
Church
Open Details
The Saint-Ayoul Priory opened its door to the public in 2019 after 15 years of a renovation. This magnificent thousand-year-old architectural ensemble is testimony of the religious history of Provins. It houses a cloister, a chapter house and no less than three chapels.
0.4 mi
10 min
Les Bistrophiles
Bistro
Open Details
Have lunch at this nice little restaurant in the centre of the medieval Provins. The food menu changes every day on the black board.
0.1 mi
5 min
Underground Galleries in Provins
Historic Site
Open Details
Welcome to one of the most mysterious and fascinating places in Provins. Originally used as a quarry to extract stones, these undergroung galleries have become a massive and intricate maze below the cobbled streets of the medieval town.
You can't visit the underground galleries on your own. Check on the website to book a guided tour. The temperature being constant at 13°, don't forget a warm jacket.
You can't visit the underground galleries on your own. Check on the website to book a guided tour. The temperature being constant at 13°, don't forget a warm jacket.
0.5 mi
15 min
The Tithe Barn – Grange aux Dîmes
History Museum
Open Details
The Tithe Barn (translated to "Grange aux Dîmes" in French) is a typical merchant's house with a sumptuous vaulted cellar. You will learn everything about the Champagne trading fairs, which made Provins such a powerful city. Located on the crossroads of the European trade roads, all merchants were gathering here to buy or sell fabrics, spices and other commodities.
0.5 mi
10 min
Car Park
Parking
Open Details
It's time to leave Provins and head towards another medieval city: Brie-Comte-Robert.
37.8 mi
1 hr
Car Park
Parking
Open Details
You can park your car here to head to the main attractions of Brie-Comte-Robert: the castle and the church.
0.1 mi
5 min
Brie-Comte-Robert Castle
Castle
Open Details
The Brie-Comte-Robert castle offers another interesting insight into the Paris region's medieval history. Its first stones were laid in the late 12th century by Robert de Dreux, brother of King Louis VII. Partially destroyed in the 17th century, it was abandoned before becoming a listed historical monument in 1925.
The restoration work is still going on today. You can visit the Heritage Interpretation Center, whose exhibition retraces the history of the castle over more than eight centuries.
The restoration work is still going on today. You can visit the Heritage Interpretation Center, whose exhibition retraces the history of the castle over more than eight centuries.
0.2 mi
5 min
Saint Etienne Church
Church
Open Details
Nearby the castle, the Saint-Etienne catholic church is a jewel of the Middle Ages. Built in the 13th century, it is a remarkable Gothic church with beautiful stained-glass windows inside.
0.2 mi
5 min
Car Park
Parking
Open Details
Come back to the parking to pick up the car and head to your dinner reservation.
13.3 mi
40 min
Car Park
Parking
Open Details
Park here before getting to a picturesque venue for your dinner.
0.1 mi
5 min
Guinguette
Restaurant
Open Details
If you want to enjoy a bucolic dinner before going back to Paris, you can stop at the Martin Pêcheur Guinguette, on the shores of the river Marne in Champigny-sur-Marne. After this medieval journey, you will experience a Belle Epoque atmosphere with music and dancing stage. You can book a table on their website.