Day Trip Orleans to Provins, an Italian Hill Town in France
#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.
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.
#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/
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/
#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.
#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?
Half a Hill Town?
#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
#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.
#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.
an excellent photo report by kerouac on Provins - details many things that I could have benefitted from knowing before I went.