Discover Troyes: Culture and Cuisine

Troyes brings together cultural history, stained glass, regional cuisine and a regularly held market, offering a range of reasons to visit. If you are looking for a hotel in Troyes, you can base your choice on the interests you want to pursue during your trip. The city’s history offers individual examples of art and architecture, as well as culinary and industrial themes.

Art and architectural history

The Cité du Vitrail is an interpretation and exhibition centre dedicated to stained glass, presenting it at eye level. Its focus is on an art form, rather than just a single work. This clear focus is a useful reference point if you want to organise your cultural interests by theme. By contrast, the other examples of art relate to a specific building or statue: the Hôtel du Lion Noir and the “Vierge au Raisin” each offer a distinct architectural or art-historical perspective.

The Hôtel du Lion Noir was built in the late 16th century by a wealthy merchant with ties to noble families from Troyes. During restoration, a sculpted Renaissance façade was uncovered beneath the plaster. This story connects the house’s construction period with a specific finding made during its later restoration: the building’s history encompasses both its original owner and the façade element brought back to light.

The statue “Vierge au Raisin” is another specific artistic reference. The delicate figure is located in the southern chapel and is representative of the 16th-century “École troyenne”. Alongside the sculpted façade, it is a single work with a specified art-historical attribution. If you want to distinguish between art and architectural history, you can consider these examples according to their focus: a façade on one hand, and a statue and its connection to the École troyenne on the other.

The hosiery industry gave Troyes a worldwide reputation. This adds a theme from industrial history to the individual references to art and architecture. The Hôtel du Lion Noir and the “Vierge au Raisin” represent specific examples of architecture and art, respectively; the hosiery industry points to an economic sector that shaped the city’s reputation.

Regional cuisine and the market

Troyes’ gastronomy includes Andouillette de Troyes. It is recommended by the A.A.A.A.A., the “Association Amicale des Amateurs d’Andouillette Authentique”. This makes a specific local speciality, together with a recommendation from a named organisation, part of the city’s culinary profile. It offers a particular point of reference for your trip if you want to explore the city’s gastronomy.

The Marché des Marots is held on the first Wednesday of every month from 08:00 to 13:00 and offers products from small producers in the Aube département. Unlike Andouillette, which is part of Troyes’ gastronomy, a visit to the market depends on a fixed monthly date. If you plan to visit, check the date and times in advance.

Arriving by train and choosing a hotel

Troyes SNCF railway station is very close to the city centre. It is a clear point of reference for arriving by train. When choosing a hotel, check the specific location details for each offer and compare them with your arrival and sightseeing plans. This lets you take both your journey and the themes that matter to you during your stay into account when making your choice.

Discover more destinations: Lesmont, Bar-Sur-Aube, Saint-Lyé, Voué, Saint-Léger-Sous-Brienne, La Saulsotte, Auxon, Sainte-Savine

For the wider travel overview: Aube.