Who stole Perceval?

The first description of companionship practices was found in Troyes in a royal order dated from 1419, setting out the statutes of the shoemakers of Troyes.

What is the motto of the “Compagnons du devoir et du tour de France”?

In order to make each half-timbered house unique, the craftsmen used to carve figures, saints and animals on the runners (large horizontal beams), on beam ends and posts…

As you can see, some of them have been planed. Why?

I am a famous fashion designer born in Troyes in 1947. Who am I?

You are in the historic centre of Troyes, called “Bouchon de Champagne” (champagne cork). Here, you can see one of the largest concentrations of 16th century half-timbered houses in France.

-Do you know what is the part of half-timbered houses on the total of the buildings here?

In the church of St Pantaleon, the brightly coloured stained glass windows used in the Middle Ages have been replaced by yellowish-brown windows called “grisailles”.

-Why?

The church of Saint Pantaleon is often described as a true museum of religious statuary in the Champagne region, because of the number of statues you can admire there.

Do you know why?

-What exceptional heritage of Troyes has been listed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme since 2009, as well as the “Déclaration des droits de l’homme et du citoyen” (Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen), films of the Lumière brothers or the Bayeux Tapestry?

Horses were precious animals in the Middle Ages. Therefore, the blacksmith who forges and fits horseshoes was really respected. But he had another skill…

What do you think it was?

For centuries in the Aube department, men have been firing clay to transform it into tiles, bricks, and pottery. At the end of the 19th century, there were 112 tile factories in the department. Today, only 2 remain (“Poterie d’Amance” and “Tuilerie Royer”)…

In your opinion, how did the last 3 tile factories in Mesnil-St-Père disappear?

In 1918, a hosiery maker in Troyes cut off the legs of a pair of panties that he called the “Petit Bateau” short trousers.

But why did he give it this name?

In Sainte-Madeleine Church, the sculptor Jean Guailde created the rood screen, a real stone lace in the flamboyant Gothic style.

What legend is associated with the rood screen?

Which underwear was invented in Troyes, the capital of knitwear?

In the Middle Ages, the Champagne Fairs were the meeting place for the whole of the Western world: draperies, silks, leathers, furs, spices, wood, goldsmiths, etc. could be found.

How many Fairs were there in a year?

In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Champagne Fairs were one of the most important commercial events in the West. An international unit of measurement for precious metals was created in Troyes.

What is it?

The stonemasons of the Middle Ages have left a legacy of technical and artistic prowess on cathedrals and churches. Gargoyles and chimeras are the most beautiful examples.

But do you know the difference between them?

Thanks to water and mills, the paper industry flourished in Troyes from the 14th to the 17th century, as well as the printing industry!

In 1602, a wonderful printer from Troyes invented:

Troyes is the European capital of stained glass. With 9,000 m2 of stained glass windows, the Aube department has about 40% of the world’s stained glass windows!

What is the surface of the stained glass windows of the St-Pierre St-Paul Cathedral in Troyes?

The magnificent, partially gilded wrought iron gate of the Hotel Dieu was made in 1776 by the Parisian locksmith Pierre Delphin.

What does the coat of arms under the cross represent?

In 1933, the French tennis player René Lacoste created his famous polo shirt which is then manufactured in Troyes.

Do you know the origin of the logo?