Provins

Encyclopedia : P : PR : PRO : Provins

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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

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 once one of the cities putting on one of the biggest fairs in Champagne, 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).

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."[link]

Economy

Provins has an important rose confectionery. This confectionery produces all sorts of food from roses, and its main specialties are rose petal jam, Provinean rose honey and rose candy.

Miscellaneous

Births

Provins was the birthplace of:

• Marie Jules César Savigny (1777-1851), zoologist
• Dominique Ané, better known as Dominique A (born 1968), songwriter and singer

Twin towns

Provins is twinned with:

• Bendorf, Germany
• Pingyao, China

External links

• http://www.provins.net/
• [City council website] (in French)
• http://www.provins.org/ (in French)
• http://www.provins-medieval.com/ (in French)
• [Provins photos]
• [Pictures of Provins] (German/English)

 

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