Reims walking tour & city guide

The cathedral of kings

Notre-Dame de Reims stands on the spot where Clovis, king of the Franks, was baptized around the year 500, and 25 French kings were later crowned here. Its facade is covered with more than two thousand statues, including the famous Smiling Angel. Inside, look for the stained glass windows designed by Marc Chagall.

Next door, the Palais du Tau, the former archbishop's palace where the kings stayed for their coronation, displays the cathedral's treasures. The cathedral, the palace and the Basilica of Saint-Remi are together a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Champagne cellars

Several of the great champagne houses are in Reims, and many offer guided cellar tours with a tasting at the end. Some cellars lie in old Gallo-Roman chalk quarries called crayères, deep underground. Booking ahead is recommended, especially in summer.

The city has Roman roots too: the Porte de Mars, a triumphal arch from the 3rd century, is one of the largest in the Roman world. Reims also has art deco streets rebuilt after the First World War, when much of the city was destroyed, and the Museum of the Surrender, where Germany signed its surrender in May 1945.

A classic walk through Reims

Start at the cathedral and the Palais du Tau, then walk north up the Rue de Vesle and the lively Place Drouet-d'Erlon, lined with cafés. Continue to the Porte de Mars and the art deco covered market, Les Halles du Boulingrin.

Finish with a tram or a longer walk south to the Basilica of Saint-Remi and the champagne houses nearby. The center loop is about 4 kilometers.

Visiting tips

Reims is only about 45 minutes from Paris by high-speed train, an easy day trip. Epernay, home of the Avenue de Champagne, is a short train ride away, and the vineyards of the Montagne de Reims are on the edge of the city.