Firstly, the French pronounce it “Twah”. So when you’re reading this you can say it properly in your head.

Troyes is a medieval old town in the Champagne region of France and it is just like the set of a movie. We were all getting Harry Potter, Diagon Alley/ A Knights Tale vibes here. It was beautiful! Many of the houses in the centre of the town are colourful, half timber buildings dating from the 16th Century. The details were incredible to explore.

We got a lift to the rain station and took the hour long trip from Chaumont to Troyes. We arrived about 9 am but had a bit of a slow start at 99% of the town doesn’t open until 10. We found some coffee and started wandering around.

I loved the immersive history of exploring places like this. We rarely get that in Australia and it’s so cool to let your mind wander and think back to the medieval times and how (probably unhygienic) it was back then. Around every corner was another amazing looking old building and we even found a gorgeous carousel! Quite a few of us couldn’t resist having a ride and it was a delight. 

- Nestled in the heart of the Troyes region, this charming medieval city is famously shaped like a champagne cork—fitting, as it sits within the historic Champagne area. 

- Troyes boasts one of Europe’s best-preserved old towns, with colourful half-timbered houses dating back to the 16th century, many rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1524. 

- It was also a major centre of trade during the Middle Ages, hosting the influential Champagne fairs that helped shape early European commerce. 

- The city is home to the stunning Troyes Cathedral, known for its remarkable stained glass collection spanning several centuries. 

- Interestingly, Troyes played a role in English history through the Treaty of Troyes, which attempted to make Henry V of England heir to the French throne. 

Today, beyond its history, Troyes is also a hub for outlet shopping, attracting visitors from across France and beyond.

We started as one group but eventually split up, found each other again, and split into other groups. It was all rather fluid and everyone just did what they liked and you could just tag along with whoever you wanted.

I found some lovely little boutiques and interesting stores and picked up a few little things, (a gorgeous vermillion red/orange mohair cardigan - squeee!) and nick-knacks for the kids. There is a great art store there too so I picked up an art journal, charcoal and oil pastels. We are doing some like drawing soon so wanted a few more options for that.

One stand out was the Cathèdrale Saint-Pierre Saint-Paul. A Catholic Cathedral built from the 13th to 17th Century. It has vast inside and filled with stunning stained glass windows. We all were a bit in awe of being in such a space. They were just beautiful to witness.

We decided that to prevent anyone getting lost or missing the train back we all better get on our own WhatsApp group. It saved us a few times through the day! But one awesome idea that Hannah had was for everyone to pick a colour and snap pictures as you explore the city. I chose light blue, and Hanna put them all together as a collage for everyone at the end of the day. It was a great little activity that kept us going while we were wandering around.

Unfortunately we only found the proper clothing shops on the way to the train station and didn’t have time to browse (a few of us were quite shattered). By the time we got to the train we were all exhausted. I think we did about 14,000 steps so alert dinner I wasn’t keen to keep socialising.

It was Easter morning when I got to bed so I made myself stay up so I could FaceTime the kids while they did their Easter Hunt. It made my heart happy and sad at the same time.