Discover the body of the cork

Seen from above, the historic centre of Troyes is shaped like a champagne cork!

The bottom of the cork (on the Town Hall side) is called the BODY, while the top of the cork (on the Cathedral side) is called the HEAD.

From the church of St-Jean to the church of St-Nicolas, via the street “alley of the cats” (“ruelle des chats”) and the Hôtel Vauluisant, wander through the streets of the body of the cork and discover the most beautiful places in the district, while learning all sorts of surprising things!

To recognise the different saints of the Christian religion, artists depicted them with their own “attributes”.

For example, Saint Roch is always depicted with a dog, which, according to legend, licked his wounds (shown on his leg) and brought him bread when he was suffering from the plague, thus saving his life.

Saint Peter is recognizable by the keys to paradise in his hands.

St John the Baptist carries a lamb…

If the church is open, you can go inside to admire its remarkable 16th-century stained glass windows.

In the Middle Ages and up until the end of the 19^th century, very few people knew how to read. As a result, stained glass windows were a kind of comic strip that allowed the faithful to learn the main passages from the Bible and the Gospels.

The Aube department alone accounts for 40% of the world’s listed stained-glass windows!

Rachi (1040-1105), the famous rabbi from Troyes of the 11^th century, was the first commentator on the sacred texts of Judaism.

He is still read and studied today by Jews all over the world.

The coat of arms or escutcheon was created in the 12^th century to distinguish knights in armour by using different colours on their shields.

The coat of arms became the distinctive sign of a noble family and its territory.

Here is the coat of arms of the region of Champagne.

Troyes is the undisputed capital of knitwear.

In 1918, a hosier from Troyes cut off the legs of a pair of knickers that he called “Petit Bateau” knickers, one of the legendary garments that contributed to the reputation of hosiery in Troyes!

In 1927, André Gillier, under the Jil brand, made the first kangaroo briefs in his Troyes hosiery factory.

Finally, it was also in Troyes that the famous Lacoste polo shirts were created in 1933...

The Templar Order was founded in Troyes by Hugues de Payns, from the Aube department, in 1129.

This religious and military order accompanied and protected pilgrims to Jerusalem during the crusades of the 12^th and 13^th centuries.

Having become too rich and powerful, the Templars were arrested and burnt at the stake by order of Philippe le Bel, King of France, with the support of Pope Clement V in 1314!

To personalise half-timbered houses, craftsmen carved figures, saints, grotesques and animals on the runners (large horizontal beams), beam ends and posts…

You will notice that some of the carvings have been planed away.

Do you know why?

In 1667, to limit the risk of fires like the one that devastated London in 1666, a royal decree required all timber-framed facades to be covered with lime plaster. Many of the sculptures were then planed to smooth the facade!

You have finished your tour!

If you want to discover the rest of the historic heart of Troyes, we invite you to play the following game: “Head for the cork! From St-Urbain to the cathedral… ”

Enjoy the walk!