Reims (France) – detailed city guide with photos. Top attractions in Reims with descriptions, travel guides, and maps.
The City of Reims (France)
Reims (French: Reims) is a city in northeastern France, in the Grand Est region. It is one of the most popular destinations in the historic region of Champagne, combining a rich history with the charm of a small town. Reims is a place of inspiring architecture and a deep cultural heritage, boasting numerous remarkable landmarks and three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city is best known for its stunning Gothic cathedral, which served as the coronation site for French monarchs for over a thousand years.
Geography and Climate
Reims is located in the northwest of the Marne department and in the western part of the historic Champagne region. The city lies between Paris and Germany, near the Montagne de Reims Natural Park. The climate is temperate, with warm, dry summers and cool winters with occasional frosts.
Practical Information
- Population – over 180,000 people.
- Area – 47.02 km².
- Currency – Euro.
- Visa – Schengen.
- Language – French.
- Time zone – Central European Time (UTC +1, summer +2).
- Charles de Gaulle Airport is just a 30-minute drive from Reims. The city is connected by high-speed rail to Paris, Lille, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, and has excellent transport links to Lyon, Marseille, Nice, and Montpellier.
- Reims has a small shopping center, Espace d’Erlon, which includes a Monoprix store where you can buy champagne at good prices.
- One of the best places for traditional French cuisine is Le Bouillon des Halles. Many restaurants and cafés are located around Place d’Erlon.
Hotels in Reims
History and Interesting Facts
Before the Romans arrived in Gaul, the site of modern-day Reims was inhabited by the Remi tribe, who called it Durocortorum. When the Roman Empire expanded northward, the Remi allied with Rome, remaining loyal even during the Gallic Wars. In return, the Romans allowed them to retain their laws, religion, and governance. Under Augustus, their territory became part of the province of Belgica, and Durocortorum became its capital.
During the Roman Empire, ancient Reims flourished. The Romans built city walls and numerous structures. In the 4th century, Germanic tribes invaded Gaul, but all attempts to capture Durocortorum failed. In 406, the city fell to the Vandals, and in 451, to the Huns.
Christianity took root in Reims as early as the 3rd century. In the 5th century, the Frankish king Clovis was baptized here. During the Merovingian era, Reims was the capital of the northeastern part of the Frankish kingdom (Austrasia). In 719, the city suffered during the invasion of Charles Martel’s armies, which destroyed many Roman-era monuments.
During the Hundred Years’ War, a city council was established in Reims to defend the city. After the war, Reims was rebuilt and developed. Its growth was temporarily halted during the Huguenot Wars but resumed after the coronation of Louis XIV. During the French Revolution, Reims became a center for educating the new generation, largely avoiding revolutionary unrest.
In the 20th century, Reims became a center for aviation development. During World War I, the city was heavily damaged by German forces. In World War II, Reims was occupied by the Germans from 1940 to 1944.
Landmarks and Attractions
Reims Cathedral – The most iconic landmark of Reims, holding a special place in French history and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of France’s most important religious buildings and the coronation site of nearly all French monarchs from the 9th to the 19th century. The cathedral stands in the heart of the old city, visible from afar thanks to its towering spires. It was built on the site of a 5th-century early Christian church where Clovis, the first Frankish king, was baptized. In the early 13th century, the ancient structure was destroyed by fire, and construction of the current cathedral began a year later.
Reims Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and one of France’s most beautiful churches. The current structure dates to the 13th century, featuring a grand nave, stained glass windows, and intricate decorations that create a solemn atmosphere. The western façade has three magnificent portals with a large rose window above them, along with the famous “Gallery of Kings” – a row of statues in niches.
Palace of Tau – The archbishop’s palace adjacent to the cathedral, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. French kings stayed here before their coronation and held banquets afterward. The palace was completely rebuilt in the 17th century in a neoclassical style but retains several medieval halls. It is open to the public, showcasing royal apartments, a banquet hall with medieval tapestries, a 13th-century chapel housing Charlemagne’s talisman and the Chalice of Saint Remi, and statues from Reims Cathedral.
Basilica of Saint-Remi – The oldest surviving church in Reims, built between 1005 and 1049 on the site of an 8th-century Carolingian chapel. A masterpiece of early Romanesque architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it features a Gothic façade with remnants of the original Romanesque structure, an 11th-century nave, and 12th-century stained glass. The tomb of Saint Remi attracted many medieval pilgrims. The basilica was severely damaged in World War I and took 40 years to restore.
Porte de Mars – The only remaining Roman monument in Reims. This Gallo-Roman triumphal arch, built in the 3rd century AD, is the largest of its kind in the world (33 meters long). It served as one of four gateways to ancient Durocortorum.
Reims is famous for its elegant squares. The most notable is Place Royale, surrounded by neoclassical buildings and adorned with a bronze statue of King Louis XV. Another popular spot is Place d’Erlon, known for its lively pubs and restaurants. On its southern side stands one of Reims’ oldest churches, Saint-Jacques, built between the 12th and 16th centuries. Place de la République, near the Porte de Mars, features a large park and the 17th-century city hall. South of the square lies the Roman Cryptoporticus, discovered on the site of the ancient Roman Forum.
Hôtel Le Vergeur – A unique museum in a 13th-century medieval mansion. It displays Gothic and Renaissance furniture, German Meissen porcelain, and 19th-century Oriental art. The highlight is a collection of 50 engravings by Albrecht Dürer. The courtyard features historical architectural artifacts salvaged from around the city, including Romanesque arches from a 12th-century Templar church.
