Troyes, France is a hidden, romantic gem nestled a 90 minute train journey from Paris and somewhere you don’t want to miss. Find out our ten reasons why you need to head to Troyes on a day trip…

Ever dreamt of exploring small-town France without committing to a driving holiday? Then I propose a wonderfully romantic train journey out of Paris. A mere 90 minutes by train sits the fascinating Medieval town of Troyes. Affectionately known as the City of Thousand Colours its a place of wonderment and beauty. Here are my 10 reasons why Troyes is the day trip from Paris you don’t want to miss.

It’s only 90 minutes from Gare du Nord, Paris

Arrive at Gare du Nord from London St. Pancras International. A short walk to Gare de l’Est station will get you on a direct train to Troyes. Trains from Gare de l’Est leave at regular intervals through the day. Standard tickets start from only £14.20 one-way and can be booked in advance via Trainline.com.

Troyes is as cosmopolitan as any big city

You’d be forgiven for thinking that a smaller town than Paris could not be as cosmopolitan as the big city. Troyes is a wonderfully eclectic community with a mixture of cultures and influences. With a distinct French history and a worldly modern culture, the town serves the most discerning traveller a tremendous experience.

It has one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the world

You will arrive at a Medieval town preserved in its entirety. That’s houses, courtyards, alleyways and even wells. Rows of multi-coloured houses along narrow streets make up a maze of the most astonishing historic city of its kind. Every building is still in use by the town’s residents as homes, shops or offices as they might have been in the Middle Ages. It’s the closest you will get to experiencing a Medieval town in action.

The town has its drink not found anywhere else in the world

Troyes makes its own signature drink; Prunelle de Troyes. It’s been made here since 1840. This supremely artisan drink is still made using hand-distilling methods and consumed in the same way as a liqueur. Only 60 litres can be made at a time; just enough for Troyes’ residents and visitors. I was lucky enough to taste a glass. It’s clean, crisp and utterly delicious.

There are four restaurants listed on the Michelin Guide

This town has no less than four Michelin restaurants. Caffè Cosi, Valentino, Au Jardin Gormand and At the Wine Shout are listed in the Michelin Guide 2019. I had the pleasure of dining at Valentino and can tell you that this will be the best money you’ll spend. From incredibly refined dishes such as Scallops with Serrano, cannelloni of asparagus and candied tomato starting from as little as €27 it was a gastronomic feast. Set menus start from only €29.

There’s a museum dedicated to tools

Maison de l’Outil is a museum dedicated to a collection of tools from the 17th and 18th centuries. They’ve been gathered from all over France and was first collected by Father Paul Feller between 1958 and 1978. Since then the collection has grown considerably. They’re categorised by trades such as stone cutting, boiler-making and rope-making. Maison de l’Outil is situated at 7 rue de la Trinité, 10000 TROYES and is within walking distance from the centre of the town.

It has 10 breathtaking churches

Yes, Troyes has 10 churches. Explore as many as possible from the magnificent single-tower Gothic Troyes Cathedral which has stood since the 9th century to the serene Basilique Saint-Urbain. They are all equally remarkable and have their own story. If you only visit one make it Eglise Sainte-Madeleine at 5 rue de la Madeleine. It’s smaller but is the oldest and most beautiful. Step inside and be awed by the whitened stone lace rood screen constructed by Jean Gailde who designed and sculpted it. On his death, Galide was buried beneath his masterpiece.

There’s a canal that time forgot

In 1805 Napoleon himself declared that there would be a navigable waterway along the Seine River from Paris to Bar-sur-Seine and beyond via Troyes. Whilst the first part of this project was completed by 1846 following Napoleon’s death the second half was never completed. It was permanently closed for navigation in 1957. Whilst traces of the canal remain in Troyes it has earned an apt nick-name; the canal without water.

There are five outlet malls open six days a week all year

If you’re of the shop ’til you drop persuasion then you’ll certainly be in for a treat. There have been outlet malls here since the 1960s due to the town being a manufacturing hub for luxury name brands. There are at least five outlets in total selling clothing, sportswear, lingerie and household items offering discounts of between 30% – 70%. McArthurGlen is perhaps the most famous and is situated at Zone des Magasins d’Usine Nord, Voie du bois, 10150  Pont-Sainte-Marie. There is a bus service connecting Troyes town centre to the outlets.

It’s the best place to begin your exploration of the Aube Champagne region

If you want to explore the beautiful landscape which makes up the rest of the vast Aube Champagne region Troyes is a great place to start. The town is surrounded by breathtaking vineyards. Champagne Remy Massin Et Fils, Champagne Gremillet are only two of the Champagne Houses that you can visit. Group and private tours with wine tasting can be arranged online and prices range from €10 to €220.

A point of interest amongst the vineyards is a well-preserved building belonging to the 12th-century Catholic military order Knights Templar; a powerful Christian financial institution that thrived in both membership and power. The order was eventually disbanded by Pope Clement V, in 1312, under pressure from King Philip IV of France. It’s believed that the King was heavily indebted to the order.

Exploring the rest of the region can only be done by car. Car hire is available in Troyes France.

For more information on museum opening times, bus and train timetables, parking and other inquiries you can visit The Tourist Information Centre or visit: www.tourisme-troyes.com