Troyes in the Champagne region is the biggest outlet and discount shopping center in France. For all-year round bargains, and even better bargains during the annual summer and winter sales, make your way to France's major factory outlet shopping town. Troyes is an easy day trip from the French capital.
Troyes, a beautiful medieval and Renaissance town south east of Paris, has little cobbled streets with tall, wooden-framed houses that lean in crazy angles, as well as St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral which is known for its beautiful stained glass.
It was also famous as a clothes town. Starting in the 13th century with the textile industry, by 1807 Troyes and its surrounds had around 260 clothing, textile and hosiery factories.
Today, the rag trade has been replaced by factory shopping. Troyes was the first town in France to have outlet shopping and is still the biggest. There are three major centers just outside the town. Pont Sainte Marie to the north has McArthurGlen and Marques City; St. Julien les Villas to the south east has Marques Avenue (and a few hundred yards north, the satellite Marques Avenue Maison et Decoration, the household outlet). All three outlets stock major names from Burberry to Lacoste; Hugo Boss to Manoukian as well as many French brands.
1. McArthurGlen Factory Shop Centre
Just north of Troyes at Pont Sainte Marie, McArthurGlen, the most attractive of Troyes' discount shopping centers, is organised along the lines of an American mall. Opened in 1995 it's in a village setting with end-of-line separate shops and an outside covered gallery. It's a mix of fashion, sport, children, underwear, shoes and accessories. It has over 210 brand names including Burberry; Geox; Lee/Wranger; Kenzo; Lacoste; Naf Naf; Miss Sixty; Zadig & Voltaire and more. The website (in English) is particularly helpful. Ask for discount coupons at the reception desk (next to McDonalds).
Address
La voie du Bois, Zone Pont Sainte Marie, Troyes 10150
Tel.: 00 33 325 70 47 10
Website
Opening times
Monday to Friday 10am-7pm, Saturday 9:30am-7pm
Open on Sundays during the winter and summer sales.
Directions
By Train:
From Paris Est SNCF station to Troyes train station. Book on Rail Europe.
Then bus from Troyes SNCF Station: Number 1 marked Pont Sainte Marie (Magasins).
By car:
From Paris South:
On A6 towards Lyon - Follow signs for Troyes on A5.
On A5 autoroute, junction 20 : take the road marked Troyes Centre/Ste Savine Follow signs for 'Toutes Directions' / Troyes then Châlons
Exit at Pont Sainte Marie / Z.I Lavau (exit number 3 on the by-pass).
From Paris East:
Take the autoroute A4 towards Nancy-Metz. Then follow signs for Troyes by A5. From the A5 take junction 20 and the road marked Troyes Centre/Ste Savine
Follow signs for 'Toutes Directions' / Troyes then Châlons
Exit at Pont Sainte Marie / Z.I Lavau.
From Reims:
Take the A4 autoroute then take the A26 marked Troyes. At junction 22 take the road marked Charmont ss Barbuise / Pont Sainte Marie
Follow signs for Troyes / Pont Sainte Marie.
From Dijon:
Take the autoroute A31 north, then the A5, then A26 Troyes Est towards Reims/Lille At junction 23 take the road marked Thennelières / Pont Sainte Marie.
From Troyes Town Center:
Follow signs for Châlons/Pont Ste Maries.
2. Marques City
Over 20 stores offering more than 200 labels in this mall of 15,0000 square meters of space also at Pont Sainte Marie, north of Troyes. Again this covers top names and different themes from sportswear to formal wear and accessories as well as outsize, though this is the smallest of the outlet shopping centers.
Address
21 rue Marc Verdier, Pont Sainte Marie, Troyes 10150
Tel.: 00 33 (0)9 71 27 02 66
Website
Opening times
Monday 2-7pm; Tuesday to Friday 10am-7pm; Saturday 9:30am-7pm
Open on Sundays during the winter and summer sales.
By car from MacArthur Glen to Marques Avenue
Follow the D960, then take the left to St Julien les Villas, the A5. Follow the by-pass towards Dijon for approximately half a mile then turn right towards Troyes - St. Julien les Villas. Continue on the by-pass for 1.2 miles. At the 1st roundabout, continue straight ahead towards St. Julien. At the 2nd roundabout, follow signs for Dijon. At the 3rd roundabout follow the signs for A5-Dijon. At the traffic lights, turn left towards Dijon. At the 4th traffic light you'll find Centre Marks Avenue.
See page 2 for information on Marques Avenue and Marques Avenue Maison et Decoration at St. Julien les Villas.
