Maison Romane Museum

Provins history museum in a rare surviving 12th-century house

Address 7 Rue du Palais, 77160 Provins
Admission €4.30; combined ticket €13.10
Opening Hours Wed–Mon 14:00–17:00; closed Tuesday

A small but well-curated museum of Provins history housed in one of the rare Romanesque-era houses still standing in France. The building itself is one of the oldest in the upper town, dating to the late 12th century, and was originally the home of a wealthy merchant.

The collection covers the history of Provins from prehistory through the Middle Ages and Renaissance: archaeological finds from the area, ceramics, sculptures, ironwork from the trade fairs, and a fine collection of medieval coins (Provins minted its own currency, the denier provinois, which circulated throughout Europe). A small section also covers the long decline of the town after the Champagne Fairs were eclipsed in the 14th century.

The museum is easy to miss because it sits behind an unobtrusive door on a side street. Allow 45 minutes for a thorough visit; it pairs well with the Tour César a few minutes' walk away.

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