Reims is an ideal destination for a weekend. Head for the Marne to discover the heritage of Reims, registered with UNESCO, and stroll around in its Art Deco skirts embroidered after the ruins of the First World War. It is also worth mentioning the impressive Notre-Dame de Reims and its immense blue stained glass windows, notably signed by Chagall. Visits of the highest quality that can be combined with a few tastings of champagne, THE local speciality. In October, at the end of the harvest, a getaway in Reims has all the characteristics of an ideal weekend.

Unmissable visits

An image of the city's spice, the cathedral is THE unmissable visit when you pack your bags in the Champagne city. Built in the 13th century from previous buildings, Reims Cathedral is one of the masterpieces of Gothic art. This site was the scene of the coronation of the kings of France, as early as 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 the city during the First World War, the cathedral has been patiently restored. This magnificent monument has superb old (13th century) and modern stained glass windows, including three creations by Marc Chagall (1974) and, since 2011, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the cathedral, six stained glass windows by the German artist Imi Knoebel, to honour the spirit of Franco-German reconciliation that is the cement of this new cathedral, with the famous Angel with a smile. The visit of the cathedral is free, but access to the towers is subject to a fee. The view of the city is impressive.

Just next door, the Palais du Tau is one of the five Marne sites listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The archbishop's palace of Reims is entered 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 deposited statuary of the cathedral as well as the tapestries of the "Fort roy Clovis" woven in Arras at the end of the 15th century. They decorate the room of the royal banquet where the sovereign and his suite ate lunch after the coronation ceremony. Also visible are the 13th century Archbishop's Chapel, the 12th century Cathedral Treasure Hall, the 15th century St. Ursula's nave, adjoining the Royal Banquet Hall. Other rooms are dedicated to the evocation of the last royal coronation celebrated in Reims in 1825 for Charles X.

A few cables away from these two unmissable sites, it will be necessary to visit Place Royale. Like its neighbour, the Place du Forum, it belongs to the former Roman site where the forum was held. In the Middle Ages, it became a maze of narrow streets that were impassable on horseback and complex on foot. It was not until the 18th century that the improvement of the royal roads was decided. This is how the current large square was born. Under the direction of Trudaine, administrator of Les Ponts et Chaussées, and the architect Jean-Gabriel Legendre, work began at the end of 1756, after much debate. They were definitively completed in 1788, just before the Revolution. The former Hôtel des Fermes has become the sub-prefecture, now under construction. In 1766, the square was embellished with a statue of King Louis XV, made by the sculptor Pigalle. But, due to the revolution, it was melted down to make cannons. In 1818, Cartellier created a new sculpture of Louis XV. A magnificent crossroads, Place Royale remains one of the most beautiful squares in Reims, even if you only pass through it

To the south, Saint-Rémi Basilica is a true survivor. A jewel of Romanesque and Gothic art, it has survived through the ages. Famous for being the place of the Clovis baptism in 496, it was also the heart of an intense monastic life (the abbey next to it is now the Saint-Rémi Historical Museum). Classified since 1991, just like the museum, as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the one that underwent 40 years of restoration after the winter of 1918 under the guidance of the architect Henri Deneux is a great lady of Champagne, and counts thousands of visitors every year. In October 2000, an organ was inaugurated in the heart of the building. It is a majestic building, among the most beautiful in the Grand Est region, and it is undeniable, even in front of Reims Cathedral, another essential monument of the Cité des Sacres.

The capital of champagne

You will find the Grandes Maisons de Champagne concentrated in the Champ-de-Mars district. Under your feet, there are more than 120 kilometres of galleries that house hundreds of millions of bottles of famous houses such as Mumm, Pommery, Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin... The specificity of the area lies in its crayons, which were once dug by the Romans to extract the stone. Reaching up to 38 metres in height, its natural cellars are a good introduction to understanding Champagne wines. Then, we set sail for Gueux for a journey through charming Champagne villages such as Sacy, Rilly-la-Montagne and Chigny-les-Roses marked by the memory of Madame Pommery and her rose garden... By small roads, between plains and vineyards, we continue to Bouzy, famous for its red wine which thanks the pinot noir for its amazing tannins. The largest houses also work on his land: Bollinger, Duval-Leroy, Moët & Chandon, Mumm, Pol Roger, Taittinger and Herbert Beaufort. We then stop in Verzenay to visit the Musée de la Vigne. Passing Louvois, we head towards Avenay-Val-d'Or, Mareuil-sur-Ay and finally the noble village of Ay, whose champagne has been appreciated for centuries by the greats of this world

Smart info

When? When? You can of course go to Reims all year round, especially in October at the end of the harvest. The arrival of the sunny days on the vineyards is also a very pleasant time to discover the pearl of the Marne.

Getting there. By plane, train (only 45 minutes from the TGV) or car, everything is possible.

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