Provins Medieval Festival

The Provins Medieval Festival, known as the Médiévales de Provins, is a yearly festival that turns the old town of Provins, about an hour southeast of Paris, into a living medieval fair. Provins is a UNESCO World Heritage site in France, inscribed as a town of medieval fairs, and its upper town on the hill still has ramparts, towers and cellars from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. At that time it was one of the key trading places of the Champagne region, where merchants from across Europe met to buy and sell cloth, spices and other goods. The festival revives that atmosphere.

During the event, streets, squares and gardens fill with people in period costume. Artisans work at forges, looms and benches, musicians play instruments in medieval style, and there are processions, games and street theatre. Mounted knights, tournament shows and birds of prey flying over the fields are among the best-known attractions in Provins, and the festival adds many more performances. Stalls sell food and handmade goods, and children often take part in workshops and activities. It is lively and crowded, and it suits families and anyone who likes history served with plenty of spectacle.

The date changes each year, and the festival is usually held in early summer, so check the official Provins Tourism website before planning. Tickets and the exact programme are published by Provins Tourism. Arriving by train from Paris is simple and avoids parking, although the station is outside the upper town, so allow time and comfortable shoes for the climb through the old streets.

The festival is also a good excuse to see the permanent sights. The Tour César, a keep that dominates the skyline, the Maison des Templiers, the Collegiate Church of Saint-Quiriace and the Underground Galleries, mysterious tunnels beneath the town, all belong to the same story. The Medieval Town of Provins is explored easily on foot, and the roses for which Provins was long known, said to have been brought back from the Crusades, appear in local products and gardens.

On festival days the town is busy, so a visit outside the event offers quieter views, but during the festival the whole place becomes part of a performance, and Provins’ narrow lanes suit it perfectly. Arrive early, plan meal times since restaurants fill quickly, and give yourself a full day to take in both the show and the setting.