Reims
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Former coronation city Reims is part of the most idyllic urban France. It is located in northerm France, 129 km south-east from Paris, and it has appr. 188, 000 residents. It is the dominant city of the Champagne area, where that luxurious wine brand is produced. Almost all French kings were crowned there for about 1,000 years, and its history began as a capital of the Gaullic Remi tribe in 80 BC. After the Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul (58–51 BC), the Remi allied with the Roman Empire. In 496 bishop Remigius baptized the Frankish King Clovis here and since that the city became as a coronation site for centuries. Hostilities in World War I greatly damaged the city. German bombardment and a subsequent fire in 1914 did severe damage to the cathedral, but became succesfully restorated.
Shopping
Small shopping centre Espace d’Erlon (53 Place Drouet d’Erlon) is the place for buying champagne and other luxury stuff.
Christmas Fair which fills the Place d’Erlon has a huge number of special stalls, and prices are decent.
Recreation
There is a free listing guide available in most bars and supermarkets called ‘Sortie’ which comes out on Thursday, which lists all the live gigs and cinema times.
Most of the champagne houses have several guided tours throughout the day in many languages. Tours depicts also the chalk caves that are used to store and age the champagne. Champagne Day Tour from Paris is one of the chances to get acquainted with the wine industry.
Something to explore
Cathedral Notre-Dame de Reims
This religious building and the former site of coronation represents the later Gothic architecture and its cultural status is equivalent for the Westminster Abbey in England, and Cathedral of Cologne in Germany. The cathedral replaced an older structure, destroyed by fire in 1211, which was built on the site of the basilica where Clovis was baptized by Saint Remi, bishop of Reims, in 496. That original structure had itself been constructed on the site of Roman baths. It has been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. The interior of the building has stunningly beautiful stained glass ranging from the 13th to the 20th century. Cathedral’s treasury is today kept in the Palace of Tau and it includes many precious objects, among which is the Sainte Ampoule, or holy flask, the successor of the ancient one that contained the oil with which French kings were anointed.
The Palace of Tau
This palace was home of the archbishobs of Reims, and also the residence of the kings of France before their coronation in Notre-Dame de Reims. Coronation banquets were held here afterwards. A large Gallo-Roman villa stood on the site of the palace in the 6th and 7th centuries, and later it became a Carolingian palace. Most of the early building has disappeared: the oldest part remaining is the chapel, from 1207. The building was largely rebuilt in Gothic style between 1498 and 1509, and modified to its present Baroque appearance between 1671 and 1710. The building became an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
Musée des Beaux-Arts
This art museum is located at the address 8 Rue Chanzy, and houses the collection depicting paintings all the main European artistic movements from the 16th to 20th centuries, arranged in chronological and thematic order. It also houses sculptures, drawings engravings, and furniture.
Cryptoportique
This below-street-level gallery and a crypt at the Place du Forum is allegedly have been used for grain storage in the 3rd century AD. Today it serves as venue for municipal expositions.
How to get around in Reims
Public transportation of Reims goes by trams and buses. A bus carnet of 10 tickets costs ~€8 and bars, tobacco shops newspaper shops sell them.
There are two tram lines in the city. They share a similar route, but the B line goes to the new Champagne-Ardennes TGV station. More information about the local public transportation is here.
Taxis have to be booked in advance, but they have reasonable prices.
How to get in Reims
Nearest international airport is Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris. List of its airlines is here. TGV trains go directly between the airport and Reims.
Reims have train connections between main French cities with the fast TGV lines. See the timetables and ticket prices here. Trains to cities other than Paris leave from the Champagne-Ardenne TGV station, located just outside the city. This station is connected to the central station through bus and local train.
Highway A4 leads to Reims from Paris (west), as well Strasbourg and Metz (east).
Top 5 in Reims
- Cathedral
- Trips to wine area
- The Palace of Tau
- Musée des Beaux-Arts
- Cryptoportique
Text: Timo Hellman
Photos: With the CC licence / Yann Grossel, Johan Bakker, DXR, Ji-Elle, Gérald Garitan[/fusion_text]
