Ah, Reims! Reims, the historic city, Reims, the dynamic one, the gourmet one or the cultural one... There are many ways to discover this famous city. A surprising destination, Reims is a concentrate of French history and gastronomy, the perfect place for a rejuvenating break during a family vacation or a small city break for lovers.
City of Champagne and city of the Sacres, Reims can boast of being a real open-air museum. Of its legendary heritage, 4 marvelous monuments are listed as World Heritage by UNESCO: the Palais du Tau, the Saint-Remi Museum, the Notre-Dame cathedral and the Saint-Remi basilica. The pearl of Reims, its main attraction, is its Notre-Dame cathedral: the place where 33 kings of France were crowned from 816 to 1825, it was also the place where none other than Clovis was baptized in 498. Renowned throughout the world for its history, it impresses and fascinates by its size and the beauty of its interior decorations. A true masterpiece of Gothic art, this cathedral is adorned with magnificent statues of angels with their wings spread wide and has earned the nickname "Cathedral of the Angels". Its splendid nave, its elaborate 13th century stained glass windows, and the blue windows of Marc Chagall in its axial chapel make it a real treasure to discover. Right next to the cathedral, the Palais du Tau once hosted the banquais during the coronations, and now houses the Musée de l'Oeuvre de Notre-Dame, teeming with sculptures, tapestries and precious objects related to the coronations. In this renowned city of Champagne, you cannot miss the Saint-Remi basilica: a monument of Romano-Gothic style, it is worth the detour for its architecture as well as for its museum which shelters numerous collections of art from Prehistory to the Middle Ages. If the city of Art and History that is Reims is known for its monuments, it is also known for its absolutely superb architecture. Take the time to stroll through its streets, from the Place Royale surrounded by elegant arcades, the Porte Mars, the cryptoportico of the Place du Forum, the Halles du Boulingrin where the market is held three days a week, the Villa Demoiselle, the Hôtel de la Salle and its spiral staircases, or the Place Drouet-d'Erlon: the beating heart of Reims, very lively, it invites the visitor to sit down on a terrace for a cup of coffee or a gourmet lunch.
The other asset of Reims is its champagne! Don't miss the opportunity to discover the champagne houses whose cellars dug out of the chalk can be visited all year long. Pommery, Ruinart, G.H. Mumm, Lanson, De Cazanove, Veuve Cliquot... The hardest thing will be to choose which cellars to visit as they all give you the desire!
Finally, Reims being a city on a human scale, you will undoubtedly feel at home here. Nature is omnipresent here, and the city's parks invite you to play games or to do sports along the water. The "Coulée Verte" along the canal is a paradise for walkers and cyclists, who can also take advantage of numerous hiking trails through the Champagne vineyards, perfect for combining sports and wine tourism... With moderation, of course!
