🌍Reims

city

Reims (pronounced "rance") stands as one of France's most historically significant cities, where French kings were once crowned and where exceptional champagne has been produced for centuries. Located in the heart of the Champagne region in northeastern France, this elegant city combines profound historical importance with living traditions of wine-making excellence. Reims' crowning glory is its magnificent 13th-century Gothic cathedral, Notre-Dame de Reims, where French monarchs were coronated for over 1,000 years—most famously Charles VII in 1429 in the presence of Joan of Arc. This UNESCO World Heritage Site features extraordinary stained glass windows, including contemporary designs by Marc Chagall, and over 2,300 statues, with its famous "Smiling Angel" (L'Ange au Sourire) epitomizing the height of Gothic sculpture. Beneath the city lies a hidden world of chalk cellars and tunnels (crayères) originally excavated by Romans, later repurposed by prestigious champagne houses like Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, and Pommery to age their sparkling wines in perfect conditions. Reims bears visible scars of both World Wars, with 80% of the city destroyed during WWI, yet its remarkable reconstruction in Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles has created a visually cohesive cityscape. Beyond champagne and cathedrals, Reims offers sophisticated dining focused on regional specialties, museums housing exceptional fine art collections, and the Palais du Tau—the former Archbishop's residence where coronation banquets were held. With high-speed rail connecting it to Paris in just 45 minutes, Reims provides visitors an authentic French experience combining cultural richness, architectural splendor, and gastronomic pleasures within an accessible and walkable city center.