The Sainte-Croix church in Provins, in Seine-Marne, is located in the lower town of what was then the capital of the Counts of Champagne.
It was erected from the 12th century and owes its name to a piece of the Holy Cross that Thibaud IV of Champagne would have brought back from Jerusalem on his return from a crusade.
Burned down in 1309, the building was then remodeled, equipped with a Renaissance portal. As for the stained-glass windows, they date from the 16th century. On the other hand, the nave, its ribbed vaults and columns appear to be original and characteristic of the Flamboyant Gothic style.
The church having been built on marshy areas with wooden foundations, it has suffered a lot in recent decades. The earth has dried up and its foundations are sinking.
The church, protected as a historical monument, is therefore closed to the public and can only be observed from the outside, during a free or guided visit in the medieval town listed since 2001 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Information on +33 1 64 60 26 26.
