Eurostar to Troyes

If you're keen on medieval history, there's no better place to visit than Troyes in France. This gorgeous little town used to be Champagne region's capital, which is why the centre of the town is in the shape of a champagne cork! Troyes is famous for its medieval legacy, particularly as it was once home to Chrestien de Troyes, a famous author from the middle ages. Troyes is a stunning town filled with traditional and quaint cobble-stone streets and timber houses. It's also one of the destinations available on the Eurostar connection service, so it's never been easier to reach.

About Troyes

After you arrive, head down to the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. It's a fine example of architecture dating back to the Gothic era. Building started in the twelfth century, but the project was never finished. Both St Peter and St Paul were to have a tower dedicated to them, but only St Peter's tower was constructed, which is why the building looks unbalanced! The stained-glass windows in the cathedral are worth the visit alone, as there are one-hundred and eighty in number, and were made between the thirteenth and the fifteenth centuries.

For more about the town's history, head over to the Hotel de Mauroy where you'll find a fascinating exhibition displaying tools used in the area for manual labour. The tools themselves are dated between the seventeenth and the nineteenth centuries, and there are over twenty thousand in number.

Another curious but interesting exhibition in Troyes is the Hôtel-Dieu-le-Comte's Apothecary, which displays some incredibly intricate examples of medicine pots and boxes dating as early as the seventeenth century, as well as examples of 'cures' for widespread ailments.

As with many towns in France, Troyes is famed for its exceptional culinary delights. There are plenty of restaurants in town to choose from, particularly in the Saint Jean quarter. It's busy and popular with locals and tourists alike, and is definitely the place to be seen in the evenings. One dish you simply must try during your stay is the speciality of the town: andouillette de Troyes. It is a tripe sausage, and although it doesn't sound too appealing, it's a local delicacy! And let's not forget about the wine you'll be drinking with your meal. You can't take a trip to the Champagne region without tasting champagne! Troyes is also famed for its excellent bouquets of chardonnay and pinot noir from the vineyards in the surrounding areas.

Troyes by Eurostar Trains

You can get to Troyes on one of the Eurostar's connection services. Eurostar trains depart from St Pancras International, a very easy-to-get-to destination in London. Your simplest option of connection services is to change Paris Gare du Nord, and take a taxi or get on the metro (line four going to Porte d'Orléans) to catch a connection train from Gare de l'Est. From there, there are a number of TGV services going directly to Troyes. All in all, if you travel from London, you can expect the journey time to be about four hours.

Visit the official Eurostar web site to book your train tickets to Troyes.