Provins () is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. Known for its well-preserved medieval architecture and importance throughout the Middle Ages as an economic center and a host of annual trading fairs, Provins became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
Administration
With 11,632 inhabitants (2023), Provins is not the largest town in the arrondissement of Provins, but it is the seat (sous-préfecture). Provins is also the seat of the canton of Provins.
History
There are signs of human occupation in the area as early as the Paleolithic era.
Roman era
Provins was at the crossroads of two major regional corridors in Roman Gaul: one from Soissons to Troyes and one towards Sens in the south.
Medieval era
As proof of its growing importance, by the 9th century, Provins was minting its own coin, the “denier provinois,” and Charlemagne had sent his missi dominici to the town. Under the protection of the Counts of Champagne, Provins hosted one of the largest Champagne fairs, an agricultural and trade fair crucial to the medieval economy. This political and economic instability reduced the importance of the city.
In one of the most famous events in Provins’ history, the recently crowned King Charles VII attended mass at the church, along with his royal court and saint Joan of Arc on August 3, 1429. This church keeps the Islamic silk chasuble that St Edmund had with him at his death.
Modern era
Being largely unaffected by the Industrial Revolution, Provins remained a small market town throughout the 19th century.
|percentages = pagr
|align = none
|graph-pos = right
|1968 |11432
|1975 |12341
|1982 |12065
|1990 |11608
|1999 |11667
|2007 |12267
|2012 |12161
|2017 |11844
|2023 |11632
Sights
thumb|City walls and towers
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Provins is known for its well-preserved, original fortifications from the 12th century, such as the Tour César (the Caesar Tower) and city walls.
The police station (2010) is a piece of contemporary architecture designed by Parisian architects Philippe Ameller and Jacques Dubois.
Two sets of caves underlie parts of the town. The first type were probably used to store food in the Middle Ages. The second, deeper, type contains Bronze and Iron Age graffiti.
Economy
Provins has important rose cultivation. It produces all sorts of foods from roses, and its main specialties are rose petal jam, Provinois rose honey and rose candy. Provins also used to be a large producer of wine, with the medieval methods of wine-making still being carried out by residents, and some vineyards are still being used to produce.
Education
- Public preschools (maternelles): Coudoux, Raymond Louis, Terrier Rouge, Ville Haute and Voulzie.
- Public primary schools: Coudoux, Désiré Laurent, Marais, Terrier Rouge, Ville Haute and Voulzie.
- Public junior high schools (collèges): Jules Verne, Lelorgne de Savigny, and Marie Curie.
- Public senior high schools (lycées): Thibaut de Champagne and Les Pannevelles.
- There is a private preschool through high school, Institution Sainte-Croix.