Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Day Trip Orleans to Provins, an Italian Hill Town in France

Day Trip Orleans to Provins, an Italian Hill Town in France

Old Oct 18th, 2010, 11:49 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Day Trip Orleans to Provins, an Italian Hill Town in France

On my last sojourn in Orleans, France I did a day trip to Provins, a smallish town or biggish village about an hour SE of Paris by train. I had heard many raves about Provins, including many on Fodor's.

And Provins in no way, not even in the dead of winter, failed to surprise and amaze me.

So, if looking for one of those iconic Italian hill towns close to Paris, check out ancient Provins, draped over a hill and easily reached by hourly trains from Paris.

Trip report to commence next time.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Oct 18th, 2010, 12:00 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
if looking for one of those iconic Italian hill towns close to Paris,

It takes some imagination as the fortified section is on the edge of the plateau but still flat.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7623316531799/
Michael is offline  
Old Oct 19th, 2010, 09:53 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
but i sure did walk up a steep hill to the old town and then down a steeper hill to get back to the train station???
PalenQ is offline  
Old Oct 19th, 2010, 10:18 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
But the topography is so different from the hill towns because of the plateau stretching out behind it. I would be disappointed in it if I were expecting to see an equivalent of an Italian hill town.
Michael is offline  
Old Oct 19th, 2010, 10:31 AM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I did not see that part of town so will make a correction when i re-title and re-post - thanks for the correction - yes i saw pictures of the fortified part but as it was December and days were short I ran out of time to track it down - even though I know it is the highlight probably of the town.

Half a Hill Town?
PalenQ is offline  
Old Oct 19th, 2010, 10:35 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm not going to bust your chops about the Italian Hilltown Comparison, PalenQ...it certainly got my attention!

We enjoyed Provins very much a few years back.
klondike is offline  
Old Oct 19th, 2010, 12:08 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 596
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And we certainly enjoyed our first visit there in September! Lots of pictures and commentary in our album referenced at http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...once-again.cfm
SemiMike is offline  
Old Oct 23rd, 2010, 08:18 PM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh what the heck - it seemed a hill town to me and probably for most tourists.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Jun 17th, 2011, 01:10 PM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
One blockbuster development in Orleans is that in the great - yes great in like one of the largest and most impressive in France - the humongous cathedral - anyway the Grand Bourdon (sp? or huge huge big bell that normally hangs way up in one of the bell towers has been taken down and can now be seen on the floor of the cathedral - and since the bell is cracked and cannot be played they are going to completely recast this ancient gargantuan bell using the same metal in the SAME bell factory in Orleans that originally made the big bell centuries ago. More details from my friends in Orleans but something special for sure.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Sep 19th, 2011, 11:08 AM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
relatives report that the big bourdon or bell has actually been placed back in its high up perch.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2016, 02:23 PM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/provins-as-a-day-trip-from-paris.cfm#last-comment>

an excellent photo report by kerouac on Provins - details many things that I could have benefitted from knowing before I went.
PalenQ is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
PalenQ
Europe
1
Jul 1st, 2018 07:28 AM
Tommmo
Europe
5
May 8th, 2011 10:15 PM
munich_madl
Europe
7
Apr 14th, 2011 06:44 AM
alex2
Europe
10
Apr 6th, 2006 11:57 PM
isabel
Europe
6
Feb 16th, 2004 03:27 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -