The coronation city: cathedral, Saint-Remi, Palais du Tau

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims is the reason most people come: the Gothic masterpiece where 33 kings of France were crowned, its west facade carrying 2,303 statues. Entry is free; go early for the morning light on the 13th-century glass, and don't miss the Smiling Angel (l'Ange au Sourire) on the north portal. UNESCO-listed since 1991.

A short walk south, the Basilique Saint-Remi (11th century, also UNESCO) holds the tomb of Saint Remi, who baptized Clovis in 496. Beside it, the Palais du Tau — the archbishops' palace where kings stayed for their coronations — is under restoration to become the Musée des Sacres; check what's open before you go.

New: the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Reims reopens in June 2027 after a major renovation and expansion (full ticket €11, up from €5.50 before the works — Gazette Drouot, September 2026).

Champagne: the houses and the caves

Reims sits on millions of bottles aging in chalk pits (crayères) beneath the streets. The big houses run guided tours with tastings — book ahead, especially on weekends:

• Taittinger — Gallo-Roman chalk cellars, tours in several languages.
• Veuve Clicquot — rue du Champ de Mars; the grande dame's crayères are a UNESCO-listed site.
• Ruinart — the oldest house (1729) at 4 rue des Crayères, currently being transformed with a new pavilion designed by architect Sou Fujimoto.
• Pommery — the vast estate on the Saint-Nicaise hill, art exhibitions in the cellars.

Tours typically include 1–3 tastings; the visit lasts 60–90 minutes and cellars sit around 10°C year-round — bring a jacket.

Free things to do in Reims

Reims is generous if your budget isn't. All of these cost nothing:

• Cathédrale Notre-Dame — entry is free (tower tours are the paid extra).
• Basilique Saint-Remi — free, and quieter than the cathedral.
• Regalia — the free son-et-lumière projected on the cathedral facade, Fridays and Saturdays at 20h from late November to early January.
• Parc de Champagne and the Coulée verte — the city's green lung and the riverside walk.
• Place Drouet-d'Erlon — the terrace strip; people-watching is the local sport.
• Champagne-house exteriors — the grand maisons on rue du Champ de Mars and boulevard Lundy are worth the stroll even without a tour.
• Halles du Boulingrin — the 1929 Art-déco market hall; window-browsing the Wednesday/Friday/Saturday morning market is free.
• Fêtes Johanniques (first weekend of June) and the 14-Juillet fireworks (13 July, Parc Léo Lagrange) — both free.

Festivals through the year

Fêtes Johanniques (first weekend of June) turns the old town medieval: a ~100-stall market, costumed parades, and a Saturday-night grand parade from the Basilique Saint-Remi to the cathedral parvis. Flâneries Musicales d'été (mid-June to mid-July; 2026 ran 18 June–10 July) fills the cathedral, Saint-Remi and even champagne caves with classical concerts. Reims Polar (April) is the crime-film festival at the Opéraims cinema. December belongs to the Marché de Noël — 150 chalets on the Promenades Jean-Louis Schneiter from late November to late December (2026: 25 Nov–27 Dec).

Practical: getting around

Reims is compact — the cathedral, Place d'Erlon and the champagne houses are walkable. The tram (lines A/B) links the station to the champagne hill; city buses cover the rest. From Paris: TGV Paris-Est → Reims in ~46 minutes (from about €16–28 booked ahead). From CDG airport: train via Champagne-Ardenne TGV, 53–87 minutes, €20–45. See our Paris CDG airport guide for terminals, lounges and layover plans.

Common questions

More to explore in Reims