Ancient city Provins, France

The historic city of Provins is located in the province of Champagne. Its entire territory is also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This merchant city was formed in the Middle Ages. About 11,5 thousand people live in it at present. The city was built on top of a small hill. One of the largest fairs in France was held on its territory annually in the 13th century. It is noteworthy that the population of the city was several times larger in the Middle Ages than today.

The merchant city lost its former privileges over time. Carefully preserved historical monuments are its main value today. Impregnable stone walls surround its territory today as well as many hundreds of years ago. They were built in the 13th century. The Church of Saint-Quiriace is one of the main historical symbols of the city. It remained unfinished.

The building of the tithe warehouse was built in the 12th century. A small museum is open in it today. Its visitors can admire a collection of medieval sculptures. Caesar Tower is a preserved fragment of medieval fortifications. According to recent research, it was built on the ruins of ancient Roman fortifications in the 12th century. The building of the former covered market is called Grange aux Dimes. The museum is also located in it today. It is dedicated to medieval fairs.

Roses have been one of the main symbols of the city of Provins since the Middle Ages. They began to grow here in the 13th century. The Rose Garden is one of the main city attractions today. Its area is about 3.5 hectares. More than 300 varieties of roses are grown in the rose garden. They usually bloom in June. Most visitors visit the city at this time of year. The Tea Room is located on the territory of the rose garden. It offers guests to taste unique desserts made based on rose petals. Traditional fairs are held in the city at the height of the tourist season. Their guests can buy interesting souvenirs and popular national delicacies. Next - Lagoons of New Caledonia