Traveling in France: Provins (Part 1 of 4)

Paris is surrounded by many historic towns and places.  One of those towns east of Paris is Provins (not to be confused with the Provence region).

We recently visited Provins.  Provins is a well-preserved medieval hill town and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  During our visit, we learned that Provins is culturally important for many things, including its architecture, fortifications and fairs, or markets, during the Middle Ages.

During our visit, we discovered a small museum dedicated to Provin's long history, from prehistoric periods to the recent past. 

Below is a vintage map of the town.  It depicts the fortifications that once surrounded the entire town.  The ramparts, towers and gates were primarily defensive.  They also served to regulate who could enter and participate in the thrice-yearly markets.  Local merchants and vendors from elsewhere in Europe would participate in the markets that lasted 2-3 weeks.

Pictured below is an antique cannon once mounted on the town's ramparts.  The cannon would deter or stop most aggressors.

The painting below is a postcard-like depiction of Provins, with illustrations of the ramparts and one of the gates, plus important monuments high on the hill.

The museum also had some interesting artifacts from the 1800's.  One is a mask worn by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte at an 1811 masked ball.   

Another interesting artifact is pictured below.  Can you guess what it is?

The wooden contraption is a sort of turntable used for depositing unwanted infants at a convent in Provins.  The child would be placed inside, the doors were closed, the cylinder was spun and a bell was rung.  The nuns would care for and educate the abandoned children until they left the convent.  The practice was started to combat infanticide.  1,258 infants were received during the fifty years while this system functioned during the 1800s.  The "tower of abandonment" was shut down in 1861 because it was believed to encourage the practice of abandoning babies.  Regrettably, the rate of infanticide increased again once the nuns stopped receiving the little ones.

  

Thanks for touring the museum with us.

Next Up:  What is Provins known for?