The term "trouvères" refers to medieval poets and musicians from the northern regions of France, particularly during the 12th and 13th centuries. They composed songs in the Old French language, often focusing on themes of chivalry, love, and courtly life. Their works were typically performed in the courts of nobles and were an important part of the Occitan literary tradition. Unlike their southern counterparts, the troubadours, who wrote in Occitan, trouvères contributed to the development of the lyric poetry genre in Old French. Their influence helped shape the literary culture of the time, paving the way for later forms of French literature and music.