Looking for a cultural break? Historical discoveries, gourmet walks and a rejuvenating holiday? Troyes is definitely the right place for that! Between half-timbered houses and vineyards, gourmet addresses and shopping sessions, Troyes will satisfy epicureans, lovers of the great outdoors and those who are more attracted by dynamic city breaks. Let's go!
Troyes is located in the Grand Est region, in the Aube department. A city of a thousand colours, this historic city on a human scale is a real treasure, with an astonishing heritage. Half-Gothic, half-Romanesque, its historic heart with the emblematic shape of a Champagne cork is inherited from the time when Troyes was the Capital of the Counts of Champagne. Plunging into the heart of medieval history, Troyes will surprise you with its colours, its smells, and the unique beauty of its architecture. 9 districts make up the city of Troyes: the Saint-Jean district, the Madeleine district, the Cité district, the former Jewish district, the Halles district, the Saint-Nizier and Vauluisant districts, the Theatre district and finally the banks of the Seine. In Troyes, the houses are old, colourful, and decorated with emblematic half-timbered houses (such as the Baker's House, the Corne du Cerf bourgeois house, the Goldsmith's Turret...) which give it a very special character. The narrow streets, the many 16th century mansions, the churches and other inner courtyards with their discreet charm will plunge you into the heart of its warm atmosphere. In terms of religious heritage, numerous churches dot the narrow streets of Troyes, such as the Sainte-Madeleine church and its sculpted stone rood screen, or the Saint-Urbain basilica, a masterpiece of Gothic art. But if you had to see only one religious building, it would undoubtedly be the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul Cathedral. Its imposing architecture and its stained glass windows, which are among the most beautiful in France, make it one of the most visited buildings in Troyes! The Place du Marché au Pain, the Ruelle des Chats, the Sainte-Madeleine church, the paths of the Jardin de la Vallée Suisse (Swiss Valley Garden) laid out in the ditches that ran alongside the city's old fortifications, and the many museums of the city of Troyes will complete your visit.
As for activities, in addition to walking or cycling tours, Troyes can be discovered from the air during hot-air ballooning excursions, or by canoe during quiet outings along the Seine! In addition to discovering Troyes and its surroundings, you will also have the opportunity to observe the astonishing beauty of the large lakes of the Forêt d'Orient! Shopping sessions in the factory shops, walks in the vineyards and other gourmet tastings will complete this discovery of the wonderful City of Art and History that is Troyes.
