And I take you again to my memorable Seine et Marne and one its precious medieval town of Provins. For the walk, will take you to the wonderfully beautiful ramparts. Another precious town visited first long ago with my dear late wife Martine , and back later and will be back again, eventually for the memories forever. And I take you to Provins of the marvels of the Seine et Marne dept 77 in the Île de France region of my belle France. Therefore, here is my take on the ramparts of Provins !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The ramparts of Provins include 22 towers. They are 1,200 meters long, reaching a height of 25 meters, which gives only a faint idea of the original enclosure, which measured 5,000 meters in the 13C. The ramparts were built between the 11C and 13C, primarily under Thibaut IV. The two remaining gates, the Jouy Gate and the Saint-Jean Gate, were built in the 14C. The enclosure was modified until the 16C, after which maintenance ceased. It was destroyed in several places, particularly in the lower town: the Allées d’Aligre partially correspond to their location. The surviving sections of the ramparts are mainly located in the upper town.
The two remaining fortified gates, the Saint-Jean and Jouy gates, can be reached by following the Ramparts and Leper Walk. From there, take a moment to admire the unique perspective offered by the Engine Tower. You then descend into the moat via the constructed steps before climbing the ramparts to admire the view. The Jouy Gate, and the Saint-Thibault Gate, formerly used to control access from the outside.
The Porte Saint-Jean gate is mentioned in texts between 1250 and 1270. It was flanked by two guardhouses, of which only the first two rib-vaulted levels remain. The rooms of these guardhouses were connected by an underground passage. The gate, which defended the road to Paris crossing the upper town, was closed by a drawbridge.
Located at an angle, the Tour aux engins or engine tower is the largest tower in the fortifications. It is so named because it was here that soldiers stored the metal parts used to build war machines. Legend has it that the moats at the foot of the tower were never filled with water, to prevent the metal from rusting.
The curtain wall connecting the Caesar Tower to the superb keep of the Caesar Tower, with its various rooms and panoramic views from the top floor. This 12C keep, nicknamed the Great Tower, served several purposes over the centuries: watchtower, refuge, and prison. The turrets and narrow dungeons bear witness to the austere conditions of prisoners of yesteryear. Today, the tower houses the bells of the Collegiate Church of Saint-Quiriace. As you climb the floors, you will discover architectural treasures such as the guardroom, the luxurious Governor’s Chamber, and the rampart walk, offering breathtaking views of Provins and its surrounding countryside.
The Cat’s Hole and the Pig Tower; the Executioner’s Tower, also called the Executioner’s House, or more formerly the Great Tower of Martroy Saint-Nicolas due to its proximity to the large Martroy cemetery where there was a chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas, this rectangular tower lost its defensive function in the 16C to become the residence of the public executioner. Its construction is attributed to the second half of the 14C. It currently houses collections of bulletins and books, and the Historical Society uses it as a workspace and meeting place. Also, the Tour aux Anglais or English Tower, the walls of the Bourg Neuf or New Town and the Brébans
You are best to go around the ramparts of Provins, from the outside by turning left, via the Allée des Remparts and the Allée des Lépreux (lepers). Do not miss to admire the very beautiful perspective at the level of the Engine Tower . So named because it is said that the metal parts used to make siege engines were stored nearby. You can go down into the moat to discover them below, thanks to the stairs. On the Porte de Jouy, on the city side, you will have a beautiful view of the roofs of Provins!
In the 12C and 13C, Provins reached its zenith with the famous Champagne Fairs. The town plan was designed to accommodate the numerous merchants: wide streets for the passage of caravans and for the placement of stalls, and three-story merchants’ houses with sumptuous vaulted rooms. Generally, best from Paris to come along the A4 autoroute de l’est, and then the N4 highway. Several car parks are located near the upper town, including the free Porte Saint-Jean car park and the paid Courtilles car park. Arrive early during peak season (summer) to easily find a parking space.
The Provins tourist office on the ramparts : https://provins.net/en/discover-visit/the-medieval-town-of-provins/monuments-and-pass-provins/the-ramparts-of-provins/
The Seine et Marne dept 77 tourist office on the ramparts of Provins : https://www.tourisme-seine-et-marne.fr/en/explore-the-area/6574357-at-the-gates-of-provins/
The town of Provins on its public transports : https://mairie-provins.fr/wp/2022/02/02/3913/#transports
The Île de France region tourist office on Provins : https://www.visitparisregion.com/en/medieval-town-of-provins
There you go folks, another dandy spot in my memorable nostalgic Seine et Marne and the beautiful medieval town of Provins. Again, hope you enjoy the post on the ramparts of Provins !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
