Tourist information on Reims, France

Reims is a city in the department of Marne in northeast France, about 130 km from Paris. Whilst it is the most populated and historically important city in Champagne-Ardenne, it is not the region's capital (that honour belongs to Châlons-en-Champagne). These days, Reims is known as one of the main centres of champagne production but in previous centuries it had a far greater significance, as the sacred city in which the Kings of France were crowned. Although much of Reims was destroyed in the First World War, it was subsequently rebuilt. Today it is a thriving centre of industry and tourism, one of the most charming of France's larger towns.    

The region in which Reims is situated is known to have been inhabited since Neolithic times. The city originated in around 80 BC from a settlement founded by the Gaulish tribe of the Remi (from which the name Reims derives). After the Remi formed an alliance with the Romans to defeat the Belgians, the settlement grew into the prosperous city of Durocortorum (which means Round Fortress). The city was evangelised in the 3rd century by Bishop Sixte and its first cathedral was built in the 4th century. The city was ransacked twice in the 5th century, first by the Vandals (in 406) and then by the Huns (in 451). It was at Reims that the Frankish king Clovis I was baptised in 496, by St Remi. This event established Reims as the sacred city of the Kings of France, the place where 35 of the country's future monarchs would be crowned, from Louis I in 816 to Charles X in 1825. During the Merovingian era, Reims was one of the capitals of the kingdom of Austrasia and in the 10th century it became a centre of intellectual culture (although it was not until 1548 that Reims acquired its university). During the religious wars, Reims allied itself with the Catholic League, but yielded to Henri IV after the battle of Ivry in 1590. The next century would be just as turbulent, owing in part to France's war with Spain. Order was restored to the region only when Louis XIV of France and Philip IV of Spain signed the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. The French Revolution brought another period of turmoil, and many of the city's sacred monuments (closely associated with the monarchy) were desecrated (the cathedral was used as a hay barn whilst many of its treasures were stolen or destroyed). A large part of the city was decimated by bombardments in the First World War but it was rebuilt in the 1920s, partly in the Art Deco style.

Reims is famous for its historic architecture, in particular its 13th century Gothic cathedral. Built on the site of an earlier sacred building in which the Frank king Clovis I was baptised, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims has a particular importance in French history as the place in which most of the kings of France were crowned. Much of the damage inflicted on the cathedral during World War I has been painstakingly repaired and today it is one of the city's main attractions. Complementing the original stained glass windows are more recent windows created by Marc Chagall, although the cathedral is most renowned for its elaborate statues, which number over 2000. The interior west face is adorned with ornate carvings of Biblical scenes, whilst atop the great rose window, 50 metres above ground level, is the famous gallery of kings, an ambitious array of statues depicting France's monarchs, with Clovis I at the very centre. Adjacent to the cathedral is the old bishop's palace, the Palais de Tau. This imposing 17th century building was where the kings of France resided on the occasion of their coronations. It currently houses a museum exhibiting the treasures that had previously been kept in the cathedral, including apparel worn by the kings at their coronation.

Situated about a mile south of the city centre is another important sacred building, the Basilique Saint-Remi de Reims. Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, this vast church (which is almost as large as the cathedral) combines Romanesque and Gothic styles, and contains the revered relics of St Remi, the bishop who baptised Clovis I. Reims' most ancient monument is the Porte de Mars, a 3rd century triumphal arch. The largest surviving Roman arch, it is 13 metres in height and 33 metres in length, and consists of three huge archways separated by columns.

Other buildings of note are the Église Saint-Jacques, one of the city's oldest churches; the palatial Hôtel de Ville (City Hall); the Hôtel de la Salle, the 16th century birthplace of Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle (a local philanthropist who dedicated his life to educating the town's poor); and the Opéra de Reims, formerly known as the Grand Théâtre de Reims, which opened in 1873 and is one of the most beautiful theatres in France. The Place Drouet d'Erlon is a square at the heart of the busy city centre, surrounded by trendy bars and restaurants. The city's other main squares are: the Place Royale, with a statue of King Louis XV created by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle; the Place Cardinal-Luçon, with a statue of a defiant Joan of Arc on horseback; and the Place de la République, with its imposing fountain by Frédéric Bartholdi, the man who designed the Statue of Liberty.

Reims' most impressive museum is its Musée des Beaux-Arts, housed in what used to be the Abbey of St. Denis. This has an impressive collection of paintings of the French, Dutch and Flemish schools, as well as some notable examples of modern art. The artists represented include such masters as Jordaens, Poussin, Corot, Delacroix, Rousseau, Courbet, Monet, Pissarro, Sisley, Renoir, Gauguin and Matisse. The Musée de la Reddition (Surrender Museum) marks the spot where Nazi Germany officially surrendered to the Allies on 7th May 1945. Another interesting museum is the Musée d'Automobiles, a car museum with over 200 exhibits.

Reims is served by two main railway stations. The Gare de Reims in the city centre is the hub for the regional rail network. The Gare de Champagne-Ardenne, situated 5 km southwest of the city, has a high speed rail connection (provided by TGV Est) to Paris, Metz, Nancy and Strasbourg. The journey from Paris to Reims by TGV takes about 45 minutes. Within the city centre, there is a reliable bus service.