Reims

Over 2,000 years of history

City of art and history, Reims invites you to go back in time through the visit of its most emblematic monuments. The Gallo-Roman remains bear witness to the ancient past of the city of the Rèmes, from the Forum square and its Cryptoporticus to the Porte de Mars. Among the scenes that adorn the vaults of this impressive arch, you will undoubtedly recognize Romulus and Remus, the founder of the city, if we believe the legend. Unfortunately, wars did not spare the beautiful city. More than 80% of the city was destroyed during the Great War, but Reims was able to rebuild itself wonderfully. Its burnt cathedral has been adorned with an impressive reinforced concrete frame. You only have to look up to admire the superb ornamentation of its Art Deco buildings, such as the Saint-Nicaise church or the Carnegie library.
Centuries later, the city of the coronation continues to shine, with its rich historical heritage. 33 pretenders to the throne have been crowned here! The cathedral is the epitome of the city, and is THE must-see when you arrive in the city of Champagne. Built in the 13th century from previous buildings, Reims cathedral is one of the jewels of Gothic art. This site was the scene of the coronation of the kings of France, from the 11th century. During the ceremony, they were anointed by the Archbishop of Reims with oil from the Holy Ampoule, a vial which, according to tradition, had been used during the baptism of Clovis. Having suffered from the bombardments of which the city was victim during the First World War, the cathedral was patiently restored. This magnificent monument has superb ancient (13th century) and modern stained glass windows, including three creations by Marc Chagall (1974) and, since 2011, on the occasion of the cathedral's 800th anniversary, six stained glass windows by the German artist Imi Knoebel, to honour the spirit of Franco-German reconciliation which is the cement of this new cathedral, with the famous Angel with a smile. The visit of the cathedral is free, but the access to the towers is paying. The view over the city is impressive.

The unmissable visits

Apart from the cathedral, which is one of the city's must-see monuments, you will be spoiled if you are a history and culture lover, as Reims has a particularly rich heritage. Starting with the Palais de Tau which is one of the must-sees. It is one of the five sites in the Marne region classified as world heritage by Unesco. You enter the Archiepiscopal Palace of Reims through the main courtyard. Built in 1690 by Mansart and Robert de Cotte, this site is now the museum of the cathedral's work. It contains the cathedral's deposited statuary as well as the tapestries of "Fort Roy Clovis" woven in Arras at the end of the 15th century. They adorn the royal banquet room where the sovereign and his retinue had lunch after the coronation ceremony. Also visible are the archbishop's chapel from the 13th century, the cathedral's 12th century treasure room, and the 15th century nave of Saint Ursula, adjacent to the royal banqueting room. Other rooms are dedicated to the evocation of the last royal coronation celebrated in Reims in 1825 for Charles X.
A short distance from the Tau Palace, you should take a walk on the Place Royale. A magnificent crossroads, the Place Royale remains one of the most beautiful squares in Reims, even if you only pass through it. Like its neighbour, the Place du Forum, it belongs to the ancient Roman site where the forum was held. In the Middle Ages, it became a maze of alleys that were impassable on horseback and complex on foot. It was not until the 18th century that the royal roads were improved. This is how the current main square was born. Under the direction of Trudaine, administrator of the Ponts et Chaussées, and the architect Jean-Gabriel Legendre, work began at the end of 1756, after much debate. It was finally completed in 1788, just before the Revolution. The former Hôtel des Fermes became the sub-prefecture. In 1766, the square was embellished by a statue of King Louis XV, created by the sculptor Pigalle. However, due to the Revolution, it was melted down to make cannons. In 1818, Cartellier created a new sculpture of Louis XV.
To the south, the Saint-Remi basilica is a true survivor. A jewel of Romanesque and then Gothic art, it has stood the test of time. Famous for being the place where Clovis was baptized in 496, it was also the heart of an intense monastic life (the abbey next to it is now the Saint-Remi Historical Museum). Classified since 1991, just like the museum, as a world heritage site by UNESCO, the church, which underwent 40 years of restoration after the winter of 1918 under the leadership of the architect Henri Deneux, is a grande dame of the Champagne region, and counts thousands of visitors every year. In October 2000, an organ was inaugurated in the heart of the Saint-Remi basilica. It is a majestic building, among the most beautiful of the Grand Est region, and does not demerit, including in front of the cathedral of Rheims, another monument impossible to circumvent of the City of the Sacred.

The city where the champagne flows

To discover the city's greatest treasure, you have to go down 30 metres below the surface. There, in the Gallo-Roman chalk pits, lies a labyrinthine network of 120 km of cellars containing more than 250 million bottles of champagne from the most prestigious houses: Veuve Clicquot, Pommery, Demoiselle Vranken, Taittinger... The other particularity of the city is that it is home to nearly 50 hectares of vineyards. A visit to one of the major vineyards is a must during your stay.
There is no shortage of ideas for exploring the 34,000 hectares of surrounding hillsides, from the Montagne de Reims to the Saint-Thierry massif, via the Mont de Berru and the Ardre valley, whether by bike, hot-air balloon, 2CV or gyropod. Whether in the city centre or in the outlying villages, each estate offers rural and gourmet excursions, including walks and picnics in the vineyards, visits to the cellars, tastings to learn about oenology and even workshops to learn how to sabre the champagne.

The art of living in Reims

Reims is not only about champagne, it is also about an amazing gastronomic heritage. True epicureans, the people of Reims have a taste for good things and know how to treat themselves. To convince yourself of this, you just have to look at the bistronomic restaurants, wine and champagne bars, but also the delicatessens, wine shops and pastry shops that multiply every year in the sacred city. The great institutions of Reims all offer workshops to discover the secrets of making their products, to learn the art of tasting or to match wines and cheeses... Pink biscuits, champagne marc corks, lentils, ham and Reims mustard are just some of the specialities that you can try in the Reims brasseries in the Boulingrin district or on the Place du Forum. Finally, for gourmets and lovers of exceptional cuisine, the Grand Reims region also has a lot of surprises in store for you at its Michelin-starred restaurants.
Reims also offers exceptional hotels and guest rooms, sometimes with the added bonus of a rooftop restaurant where you can sip a glass of champagne. In the heart of the "Cité des Sacres", several large hotels offer luxury services: rooms dedicated to well-being with a private spa, a penthouse with a terrace overlooking the cathedral... And if you prefer to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, several châteaux, owned by champagne houses, offer guest rooms in the heart of the vineyards.

A rich cultural life

Reims is also a city with a strong cultural component. Many theatres are located in the "Cité des Sacres" and in the suburbs. Thus, at the Comédie and the Manège, colourful creations follow one another. In the spacious premises of the Cartonnerie, the programme gives pride of place to local artists, without forgetting the current heavyweights. For comedians and atypical shows, you should go to the cabaret le K, in Tinqueux.
If you prefer books and quiet places, go to the Médiathèque Jean-Falala, whose panoramic room has a magnificent view of the cathedral. Don't forget to visit some of the city's museums to better understand the history of Reims. In particular, we recommend the Museum of the Surrender, where the Nazi surrender was signed at 2.41am on 7 May 1945 and where various archives recall this major event in the history of humanity. The hotel-museum Le Vergeur, installed in a beautiful mansion built in the 13th century, retraces three centuries of the art of living in a house belonging to the great bourgeoisie of Reims.
Near the cathedral, the Trésor is a meeting place for all culture lovers. It includes several areas: an info-culture point, an area devoted to the extension of the Fine Arts Museum and another dedicated to the Franco-Japanese artist Léonard Foujita

Here is a small overview of some of the cultural nuggets that await you in Reims.

A beautiful effervescence

In this city on the move, lovers of physical and outdoor activities will also find something to their liking thanks to the hundred or so spaces dedicated to sport, in particular the UCPA Sport Station Grand Reims, an aqualudic centre with an Olympic swimming pool and ice rink, opening in November 2020, in the heart of the city. Although the city centre remains very urban, there is no shortage of greenery to take the chill off with its 500 hectares of green parks and squares, not to mention the 18 km of Coulée verte, an ideal trail for walking or cycling along the water's edge. In summer, the atmosphere is festive on the banks of the Vesle. Reims residents and tourists come together to share a moment of conviviality around the musical scene of the Guinguette rémoise and the various shows under the big top of the Temps des cerises.
With a young population of 35,000 students, Reims is a dynamic city, always on the move. Throughout the year, the city of Reims also promotes culture with its contemporary stages, its musical festivals such as the Magnifique Society, the unmissable event that invades the Champagne Park every summer, or the Flâneries Musicales, a not-to-be-missed event for classical music lovers. With such a dense and varied programme, Reims is truly a city where there is never a dull moment!