Troyes

Administrative centre of the département of Aube in the Champagne-Ardenne region of northeast France, situated on the River Seine 150 km/93 mi southeast of Paris; population (1999) 60,900, conurbation 128,900. The town has an agricultural market, but is also an industrial city manufacturing textiles, machinery and foodstuffs. The hosiery industry remains important. The Treaty of Troyes signed by Henry V of England and Charles VI in 1420 recognized Henry as heir to the French throne.

Features Troyes has been an important city since the Gallo-Roman period and was the capital of the medieval province of Champagne. Its centre contains winding streets with old houses and a large number of churches. The beautiful 13th-16th-century Gothic cathedral of St Peter and St Paul is rich in sculpture and stained glass. Other churches include the 13th-century church of St Urbain and the 16th-century church of Ste Madeleine. St-Loup, a former abbey church, has a library of old books and manuscripts. There is a museum of fine arts, as well as a museum tracing the history of the local hosiery industry.