24/06/2026
There are cities you stumble across almost by accident, the kind that weren't on the list but somehow end up stealing the whole trip.
Troyes was one of those for me.
I'd been wanting to escape the summer heat of Paris, and on a whim, I hopped on a train. No real agenda, no checklist — just curiosity. I rolled into the quiet Gare de Troyes on a Monday morning, and within hours I'd fallen completely into the rhythm of the place. Two days later, leaving felt genuinely reluctant.
Here's the thing about Troyes: it's all cobblestones, Gothic spires and the half-timbered houses that lean so gently into each other along lanes barely wide enough for two people to pass. Lots of chances to see stained glass of extraordinary quality. And despite all of that, it still feels like a secret. This is the France that hasn't been flattened by tourism. At least not yet.
The practical bit, for anyone tempted: it's just 90 minutes by direct train from Paris Gare de l'Est. No car needed, no complicated logistics, just a coffee, the Ch*****ne plains rolling past the window, and suddenly you're somewhere that feels like a completely different pace of life.
I spent 48 hours there. It was enough, and also nowhere near enough.
The full itinerary is on the blog now: the old town walk, where to stay, where I'd eat (and where I wouldn't), the museums worth your time, and exactly how to get there.
Link below 👇
🔗 secretmoona.com/troyes-itinerary
***a *****ne
