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
- History and Culture
- Family-Friendly
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.
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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.
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Categories
- History and Culture
- Family-Friendly
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.
Translated by
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.
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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.
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09:3010 min
Car Park
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.
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0.4 mi
10 min
10:0030 min
The Walls of Provins
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".
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0.5 mi
10 min
11:0030 min
La Tour César
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.
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0.7 mi
15 min
11:4530 min
Saint-Ayoul Church
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.
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0.4 mi
10 min
12:301 hr
Les Bistrophiles
Have lunch at this nice little restaurant in the centre of the medieval Provins. The food menu changes every day on the black board.
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0.1 mi
5 min
13:4545 min
Underground Galleries in Provins
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.
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0.5 mi
15 min
14:4545 min
The Tithe Barn – Grange aux Dîmes
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.
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0.5 mi
10 min
15:405 min
Car Park
It's time to leave Provins and head towards another medieval city: Brie-Comte-Robert.
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37.8 mi
1 hr
16:455 min
Car Park
You can park your car here to head to the main attractions of Brie-Comte-Robert: the castle and the church.
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0.1 mi
5 min
17:0030 min
Brie-Comte-Robert Castle
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.
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0.2 mi
5 min
17:4530 min
Saint Etienne Church
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.
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0.2 mi
5 min
18:2030 min
Car Park
Come back to the parking to pick up the car and head to your dinner reservation.
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13.3 mi
40 min
19:305 min
Car Park
Park here before getting to a picturesque venue for your dinner.
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0.1 mi
5 min
19:451 hr 30 min
Guinguette
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.
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