_On taking the Boulevard d'Aligre to the left_, we perceive, standing out on the right, the "Hôpital-Général." _In order to reach it, cross the canal by the foot-bridge, and follow the path which leads to the foot of this building and to a gate giving access to the terraced gardens. Turn to the right in front of the gate, keeping to the wall; then take a steep path, half-way up which is the entrance door._ Ring and ask permission to view the "hospital." [Illustration: FONT, SAINTE-CROIX] =Hôpital-Général= (classed as historical monument) [Illustration: CLOISTER, HÔPITAL-GÉNÉRAL] We must climb a double staircase to reach the upper terrace where is the hospital proper. The beautiful view of the whole town thus obtained is alone well worth this visit. The hospital was originally a convent of the "Cordelières," founded in 1237 by Thibaut-le-Chansonnier, Count of Champagne. Tradition relates that he decided to build a convent because of a vision which came to him one night in his palace in the upper town: he saw St. Catherine on the hill opposite tracing the outlines of a building with her sword. The convent was several times destroyed by fire. [Illustration: CLOISTER, HÔPITAL-GÉNÉRAL] Henry IV. made it his headquarters when he besieged Provins in 1592, and he narrowly escaped death by a cannon-ball, which killed several of his officers. In 1748 Louis XV. turned the convent into a "Hôpital-Général." To-day it is a home for old people and orphan children, managed by nuns, who act as guides to tourists desirous of visiting the establishment. The galleries of the cloisters, dating from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, are interesting as showing specimens of very fine timber-work. The foliage of the capitals of the pillars is also to be remarked (see opposite photograph). [Illustration: MONUMENT OF THIBAUT'S HEART] In the old chapter-room some handsome vaulting is still to be seen. In the centre of the chapel is a little stone monument, of the thirteenth century (view opposite), which contains the heart of Thibaut, the founder of the monastery; that of his wife, Isabel of France, daughter of St. Louis; and that of her son. It consists of a carved and gilded metal cover surmounting six panels, each one containing, under a canopy, a monk reading a book. The visit ended, _we retrace our steps to the Boulevard d'Aligre and follow it to the right, crossing the Durteint_. The city wall begins at this point. =The Ramparts= (historical monument) [Illustration: ENTRANCE TO THE TURRET, THE TROU-AU-CHAT] The line of the ramparts climbs upwards. At the summit is a doorway pierced in a part of the wall which juts off from the principal line of ramparts. It is the "Porte Faneron" and formed part of the original wall which surrounded the upper town.