Heritage Days 2026: discover this astonishing historic vault in Seine-et-Marne

The Heritage Days return on the weekend of September 19 and 20, 2026, continuing their promise to spotlight or rediscover historic sites across Île-de-France. In Provins, a medieval town listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the best-kept secrets is well worth a visit: the Caveau du Saint-Esprit, a vast vaulted chamber dating from the 12th century that still safeguards the vestiges of a medieval hospital.

The Caveau du Saint-Esprit corresponds to the basement hall of the ancien hôpital du Saint-Esprit, founded in 1177 by Henry the Liberal, Count of Champagne. In a period when Provins was experiencing exceptional growth thanks to the famous Champagne fairs, this institution welcomed the sick, travelers and the most needy. Of the original complex remains today this impressive underground hall, entirely vaulted and resting on sturdy pillars, a remarkable example of the medieval civil architecture in Île-de-France.

With its nine vaulted bays and imposing scale, the vault bears witness to the know-how of builders from the Moyen Âge. Classified and listed as Monuments historiques, it stands as one of the few preserved remnants of this former hospital, whose mission was above all to welcome and assist both passers-by and the city’s residents.

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Over the centuries, the building has served various purposes before being safeguarded as a cornerstone of Provins’s heritage. Today owned by the City of Provins, the Caveau du Saint-Esprit helps pass on local history by regularly opening its doors to the public. A visit offers a clearer sense of Provins’s role in the Middle Ages, when the town was among the kingdom’s major commercial hubs, while also providing a close-up look at a medieval architecture that is often little known, far from castles and cathedrals.

On the occasion of the Heritage Days 2026, this distinctive monument will once again welcome visitors eager to discover a more discreet facet of the heritage of Seine-et-Marne. Below you'll find the schedule of tours and activities offered during this weekend.

The 2026 Heritage Days program at the Caveau du Saint-Esprit in Provins

• Self-guided tour of the Caveau du Saint-Esprit

  Self-guided tour of the vaulted ground-floor hall (12th century) of the former Holy Spirit Hospital, founded in 1177 by Henry the Liberal, Count of Champagne.

  Participation terms: Free admission - No reservation required

  Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

• The Dragon and Lézarde Company Presents Plays and Fables

  The “Dragon and the Lizard Company” brings the monument to life by guiding a journey through Provins, opening with an introductory poem dedicated to the town, and then moving through Feydeau with Don’t Go Walkin’ Naked to Tailleur pour dames, a hint of Morgane Guelti and La Patiente endormie, a dash of Courteline with Les Boulingrins, not forgetting the fables of Jean de La Fontaine—from La Cigale et la Fourmi to Le Corbeau et le Renard, and La Grenouille qui voulait se faire aussi grosse que le bœuf—along with Jacques Prévert’s poems Fleurs et couronnes, all interwoven with original texts by Vicky: La visite des souterrains, La collégiale Saint-Quiriace and À la conquête de la tour César.

  Participation conditions: Subject to availability - Free | No reservation required

  Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 14:00–14:45, 15:00–15:45, 16:00–16:45, 17:00–17:45 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00–12:00, 14:00–14:45, 15:00–15:45, 16:00–16:45

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