Troyes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A city in northeastern France, known for its rich historical and architectural heritage, often associated with medieval and Renaissance influences
2. The capital of the Aube department, notable for its well-preserved old town and a center of textile production, particularly in the past
3. A commune in France, recognized for its cultural significance and contributions to the Champagne region's history and economy

Etymology: Troyes is a city in north-central France, on the Seine, and the English word is simply the French name carried across unchanged. Its own history reaches back to Roman times, when the town was the capital of the Tricasses, a Gallic people, and the name is thought to echo that tribal name, though the exact link is debated. The city's fame in English comes mainly from its connection with the Middle Ages, when it hosted the great fairs of Champagne and was a centre of trade. Writers and readers in English meet the name most often in histories of that period and in references to the Treaty of Troyes of 1420, which set out a plan for the French crown to pass to the English king Henry V. Because the word is a place name, it has no meanings beyond the town itself, and in English it is pronounced close to the French, with the final "s" silent.