Provins

Provins

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Provins

Provins is a commune of France. Population (1999): 11,667, while 12,814 people live in Provins and the surrounding built-up area.

Provins, Town of medieval fairs, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.

Administration
History
Sights
Economy
Miscellaneous

Births
Twin towns

External links

Administration

Provins sous-préfecture of the Seine-et-Marne département. It is the chief-town of the arrondissement of Provins, and of the canton of Provins, located in the south-east of the département.

Provins is not the largest city in the arrondissement of which it is the chief-town - that honor falls to Montereau-Fault-Yonne.

The arrondissement itself has 7 cantons, 125 communes and 112,020 residents. The canton of Provins has 15 communes and 20,996 residents.

History

Provins was home to one of the Champagne fairs that were crucial to the medieval European economy, when the city was under the protection of Counts of Champagne.

Sights

Provins is well-known for its medieval fortifications, such as the Tour César (Caesar Tower) and well preserved city walls.

The Saint Quiriace Collegiate Church is located here. The Empress Galla Placidia is said to have presented Ancona with the relics of Judas Cyriacus. However, the saint's head was situated at Provins, which was brought over from Jerusalem by Henry I of Champagne, who built a church in this town to contain it. This still stands as the Saint Quiriace Collegiate Church, although construction work during the 12th century was never completed due to financial difficulties during the reign of Philippe le Bel. A dome was added in the 17th century, and the old families of Provins who lived in the upper town were called "Children of the Dome."http://www.provins.net/anglais/_private/cadrehistoriq.htm

Economy

Provins has an important rose confectionery. This confectionery produces all sorts of food from roses, and its main specialties are rose petal jam, Provinois rose honey and rose candy. And, odd as it may sound, the rose ice cream is a delicious surprise!