Reims is a city in the historic Champagne-Ardenne region in northeastern France. It is the unofficial capital of the Champagne wine region, and many of the renowned Champagne houses have their headquarters there. It is called the “coronation city” and we will see why later.
This interesting city is located just 140 kilometers from Paris, so it can be a very good option for a day trip from the French capital.
The transfer from Paris can be made by train and takes about 40 minutes, or by bus, which takes almost two hours.
►Check cost and schedules of train journey to Reims on your dates
But let’s quickly start with the tour of the city. Started?
We are in the Champagne region , this French wine region is located in the north of France, in the Grand Est region. The vineyards are spread mainly across the Marne department.
In this area we find the city of Reims, Epernay, Hautvillers, Verzenay, and Challons in Champagne among others. ►Tour along the champagne route.
Indice:
What to see and do in Reims
Place Drouet d’Erlon
The Drouet d’Erlón square welcomes us upon our arrival in the city. This is the nerve centre of the city, dominated by the Subé fountain, where we find cafés and restaurants with a lively bustle. Our accommodation was in this area.
We chose to stay one night in Reims and then embark on the champagne route. The hotel chosen was the Hotel Bristol Reims.
Very comfortable, with a very good location for going out to explore the city, a good breakfast. We paid almost €100 for a double room with breakfast in June to give you an idea, as always, it varies depending on a lot of factors so look for your dates.
Booking.comOr you can try this Skyscanner hotel search engine
After leaving our suitcases, we start the walk to the cathedral.
Notre Dame de Reims Cathedral
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Reims is a cathedral of Catholic worship.
Built in the 13th century , after the cathedral of Paris, but before the cathedral of Strasbourg, it is one of the most important Gothic buildings in France.
In 1991, it was included on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. It has played a central role in the history of France. It was here that Clovis, ruler of the Franks, accepted Christianity in the 5th century and it was the site of the coronation of many French kings.
It has witnessed the coronation of thirty-three kings in just over 1,000 years. More recently, in 1962, Franco-German reconciliation was made official with a mass in the cathedral in the presence of General de Gaulle and German Chancellor Adenauer.
Admission to it is free, but not the climb to its towers.
The price of the guided climb (in French) is €9 but it is included if you have the Reims Tourist Pass.
The pass will not be on sale for use between January 1 and March 31, 2023 as municipal museums will be free to enter during that period.
Tau Palace
Right next door we find the Tau Palace, an archiepiscopal palace that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991 and is associated with kings since they were, as we said, crowned next door in the Notre Dame de Reims Church.
Built between 1671 and 1710, it is currently a museum with statues, liturgical objects, exceptional tapestries and large rooms.
The entrance fee is €8 and is included if you have taken out the Reims city pass. ►Tau Palace Ticket
We got the pass because we had planned to do some activities in the city and with that we amortized it. The price of the 24-hour pass is €23.
You also have a transfer in a minibus, which will take you to several places, including the champagne cellars.
Vranken Pommery Winery in Reims
For all the reasons stated above, you will find in Reims several of the most famous champagne houses in the world and it is tempting to take a tour of one of them.
Some tours are guided and others are audio-guided, but it is difficult to find them in Spanish, as activities are generally offered in English and French.
The cellars are many meters underground and the tour through them is quite interesting.
Find wine experiences and winery views in the Champagne area
In this city we chose to take the tour of the Vranken Pommery winery, the tour is with an audio guide with options in English or French.
The entrance fee is €24 and includes a tasting of a glass at the end of the tour.
Although our choice was to visit the Pommery, you have here the Mumm, Taittinger, Veuve Clicquot wineries among the most renowned.
If you are a big fan of wine tourism, you may choose more than one. We chose to visit one here in Reims and another during our visit to the city of Epernay to discover how champagne is produced.
The house was founded in 1858 by Alexandre Louis Pommery and Narcisse Greno, and the core business was the trade of wool . Under the direction of Alexandre’s widow, Louise Pommery , the firm turned to the production of Champagne and soon became one of the most important Champagne brands in the region. Champagne Pommery was the first house to market a brut Champagne in 1874.
Reims Champagne Automobile Museum
Let’s now go to the Automobile Museum. This museum, which opened in 1985, is one of the five most important French automobile museums in terms of its collections.
Today it is managed by an association of mechanical enthusiasts who own several of these vehicles on display, whose presentation is renewed periodically.
Cars and motorcycles from 1903 to the present day are on display, some of which have only been built in a few units. There are 250 vehicles on display and the estimated visit time is one and a half hours.
Opening hours are daily from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5/6 p.m. depending on the season, except for Tuesdays when it remains closed.
The entrance fee is €10, but it is included in the Reims tourist pass.
It is certainly not a must-see in the city, but if you are a fan of vehicles and their history, it will surely captivate you.
►Web Musée Automobile Reims- Champagne
Porte de Mars
Our steps will take us aimlessly through the city. We will discover this as we arrive at the Place de la République at the Porte de Mars.
Built in the late 2nd century, the Porta di Mars is the only one of the four monumental arches that gave access to the city of Durocortorum that has survived. Durocortorum was the name of the city of Reims during the Roman period. It was the capital of the Remi tribe and the second-largest city in Roman Gaul .
This ancient monument is one of the longest in the Roman world.
The Museum of Surrender
Nearby we can access the surrender museum. The museum is located in the building where the capitulation of the German army was signed in May 1945.
The entrance fee is €5 but is included if you have the tourist pass.
Boulingrin Market
Converted into the main food market in 1929, after an ambitious restoration with art deco touches, it reopened its doors in September 2012. In addition to selling food, it hosts exhibitions and cultural events.
A tour between their stalls can be a nice option.
Reims City Hall
Town halls in France are named after Hôtel de Ville. The Hôtel de Ville in Reims has housed the municipal institutions since 1499.
Place Royale and Place du Forum
Our steps now take us to two squares, the Place du Forum, where we found a lot of movement as there was live music there.
And nearby we find the Place Royale
Basilica Saint Remi
The Basilica of Saint-Remi, next to the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims and the Palace of Tau, which we have already seen, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
Founded in the 6th century , since 553 it has housed the relics of Saint Remigius, the bishop of Reims who converted Clovis . The Basilica of Saint-Remi has stood the test of time, particularly during the First World War. The damage was such that its restoration took 40 years, until 1958.
Opening hours are from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Entrance fee is €6, which includes an audio guide. Entrance is also included in the city’s tourist pass.
Located in the former Abbey of Saint-Remi, the Saint-Remi Museum is another option for a visit to the city. The entrance fee is €5.
Video and map of Reims
►Do you want to see what other day trip options you can have from Paris?
NOTE: The information in this article is based on our own experience, being totally objective. This article contains affiliate links
