Hello,
I will be visiting Paris in January with a group of College students. For a break from the city, I was thinking about a day trip to Provins. We can go for free with the Navigo Decouvert.
Has anyone been to Provins in January recently? We already know it will be quiet and to go on a weekend, looking at a Sunday mind month. Are shops open? Restaurants? Thank you.
I apologize for assuming you misspelled "Provence". I had never heard of it Provins, until just now. It would definitely make a good day trip from Paris.
https://www.wanderlustingk.com/travel-blog/day-trip-paris-provins
I went in March a few years ago. It was dead! Interesting place but nothing was going on. I walked around saw the sites and headed back to Paris for lunch
We visited Provins in May and it was really dead then -- none of the medieval demonstrations and stuff one sees in high summer. IN January I would be surprised if the cafes in the square within the walls of the old town are even open as it is very much a tourist site. Of course the walls are there, but I wouldn't go in January.
Senlis is an intrinsically more interesting town but it is outside ND range. Crecy la Chapelle is more interesting to just walk around.
I love Provins but the train ride is quite long (over 90 minutes!) and yes, January might be quite dead. Alternative recommendation : combining Moret sur Loing (médiéval town along a river) and Fontainebleau (Castle, gardens, cute town). More 'happening' places, and slightly shorter travel times.
I was there in March and it was pretty dead but the cafes on the main square were all open and there was at least one demo of falconry. I think it depends on how interested you are in seeing the walls. They are very nice. The rest of the upper town is also picturesque but there are plenty of other towns that are at least as 'good' in terms of architecture and ambiance. For example, Dijon, a much larger town but the center is small and it's got great architecture and a lot more to see than Provins - but it doesn't have the walls. While Provins is closer the trains from Paris to either of them take about the same amount of time. You can't go 'for free with the Navigo Decouvert' to Dijon though.
Here are my photos of both places might help you decide -Provins: https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/p960284446
Dijon: https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/p628315982
Thank you everyone. I appreciate the take taken to reply.
Does anyone know for sure if the cafes and shops will be open in January? Or can you point me to a source where I can check this information?
Thank you again.
You can assume anywhere outside a city will be dead, bone-crushing gray, cold, and dead, particularly on a Sunday afternoon, particularly in January. Many restaurants close for vacation after the holidays.
It’s not a walled town but to get out of Paris, why don’t you look at Fontainebleau instead. There is the Chateau and the wonderful forest. Check out restaurants on line before going and reserve on a Sunday because so many will be closed in January.
Would Reims be better?
