﻿Reims, France
Champagne, Cathedrals and a Little History


If you’re spending a few days in Paris and feel like venturing somewhere a little different, Reims is well worth considering.
Located northeast of Paris, this historic city sits in the heart of France’s famous Champagne region. And with the fastest direct trains from Paris Gare de l’Est taking only about 46 minutes, it’s surprisingly easy to reach.
Of course, Reims is famous for Champagne. But there’s much more here than bubbly. You’ll also find a magnificent Gothic cathedral, centuries of French history, and even the room where one of the most important events of World War II took place.
A City Fit for Kings
One of the first things you’ll notice in Reims is the enormous Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims.
It’s hard not to stop and stare.
Construction of the cathedral standing today began in the 13th century, and 25 French kings were crowned inside it. Altogether, 32 kings were crowned in Reims over the centuries, tying the city closely to the history of the French monarchy.
One of the most famous coronations was that of Charles VII in 1429. Joan of Arc helped clear the way for Charles to reach Reims and was there when he was crowned.
Today, a statue of Joan of Arc stands outside the cathedral.
Even if you aren’t normally someone who gets excited about old churches, this one is difficult to ignore. It’s enormous, incredibly detailed, and the kind of building that makes you wonder how people managed to create something so magnificent hundreds of years ago.
Then There’s the Champagne
Let’s be honest. You really can’t visit Reims without talking about Champagne.
Some of the world’s best-known Champagne houses are based in the city, and many offer tours where you can learn how Champagne is made, explore the cellars, and usually finish things off with a tasting.
Surprisingly, though, some of the most fascinating sights aren’t above ground at all.
They’re underneath your feet.
Going Underground
Beneath part of Reims is an extraordinary network of old chalk pits known as crayères.
Many of these underground spaces were originally quarried for chalk used in construction, with some dating back many centuries. Champagne producers later discovered that the cool, humid conditions underground were ideal for storing and aging their wines.
Around the Saint-Nicaise hill alone, roughly 25 kilometers of historic cellars and passages wind beneath Reims. Temperatures generally stay between 10 and 12°C throughout the year.
And those bottles spend quite a bit of time down there.
By law, non-vintage Champagne must mature in the cellar for at least 15 months, while vintage Champagne must remain for at least three years. Many producers choose to age their wines even longer.
116 Steps Down
One of the more memorable cellar tours is at Pommery.
Getting there involves walking down an impressive staircase of 116 steps into cellars about 30 meters below ground.
Once you’re down there, you’ll find around 18 kilometers of cellars carved through the chalk and ancient Gallo-Roman chalk pits. Millions of bottles are stored underground.
So yes, those 116 steps are probably worth it.
Just remember that what goes down eventually has to come back up!
Another fascinating stop is Ruinart, founded in 1729 and recognized as the oldest Champagne house. Its underground network stretches for around eight kilometers and includes historic Gallo-Roman chalk pits more than 30 meters below ground. The cellars have been protected as a Historic Monument since 1931.
It’s a strange feeling walking through these enormous underground chambers and remembering that everyday life in Reims is carrying on right above your head.
Reims Has a More Serious Side, Too
Not all of Reims’ history involves kings and Champagne.
The city suffered terribly during World War I. Reims remained close to the front for much of the war and was repeatedly bombarded. By the end of the conflict, about 57 percent of the city had been destroyed.
That destruction explains something else you may notice as you walk around Reims.
Alongside its much older buildings, the city has a surprisingly rich collection of Art Deco architecture, much of it dating from the massive rebuilding effort that followed World War I.
The Room Where Germany Surrendered
Reims also played an important role during the closing days of World War II.
At 2:41 in the morning on May 7, 1945, German General Alfred Jodl signed the unconditional surrender of Germany’s armed forces at the Allied headquarters in Reims. The agreement called for hostilities to end the following day, May 8.
Today, you can visit the Musée de la Reddition, or Museum of the Surrender, and see the historic War Room where the document was signed.
It’s not a huge attraction, but sometimes smaller museums like this make history feel much more real.
Exploring Champagne Country
If you have more than one day, it’s worth venturing outside the city to explore some of the surrounding countryside.
The Champagne wine-growing region covers around 34,200 hectares and includes 319 wine-growing villages, known as crus.
You may also hear the terms Grand Cru and Premier Cru while traveling through the region.
These are historic designations. The old Échelle des Crus classification system began in 1911 and was eventually abolished in 2010. However, villages that historically held Grand Cru or Premier Cru status were allowed to retain those designations.
Seventeen villages still carry the historic Grand Cru designation.
But you certainly don’t need to understand all the technical details to enjoy Champagne country.
Drive through the vineyards, stop in one of the villages, visit a Champagne producer or two, and simply enjoy the scenery.
And perhaps bring home a bottle.
Purely for educational purposes, of course.
Is Reims Worth Visiting?
I think it is.
Reims gives you a little bit of everything: French history, beautiful architecture, vineyards, fascinating underground cellars, and plenty of Champagne.
Best of all, it’s close enough to Paris for an easy day trip, although there’s certainly enough here to justify staying longer.
Sometimes the places we remember most aren’t the ones we planned an entire vacation around.
They’re the places we decided to explore simply because we wondered...
“What’s over there?”
And Reims is a pretty good answer.


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