As the historic coronation site of French royalty for a millennium, Reims holds rightful prominence as one of France’s most regal cities in the northeastern Champagne region. Between its monumental Gothic cathedral, Champagne houses producing world-famous effervescent wines and enduring remnants from key WWI battle sites nearby, Reims promises fascinating doses of culture both historical and contemporary.
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Attend the Coronation of the Next French Monarch | Experience a historical event at Reims Cathedral. |
| Sip Your Way Through Historic Champagne Houses | Explore famous Champagne houses and taste different varieties. |
| Be Moved at Battle of France Memorials | Visit memorials and museums dedicated to World Wars. |
| Find Whimsical Street Art Across Town | Discover street art and murals throughout Reims. |
| Experience a Sound & Light Show at Reims Cathedral | Enjoy nightly light shows at the cathedral. |
| Pause for People Watching at Popular Cafés | Relax at local cafés and observe the city life. |
| Hunt for Vintage Bottles at the Covered Markets | Explore markets for unique Champagne and local products. |
| Wander through History in Saint-Remi Basilica | Visit the historic basilica and its gardens. |
| Day Trip Back in Time to Épernay | Explore nearby Épernay and its Champagne houses. |
| Celebrate the Fizz at Habits de Lumières Shows | Attend multi-sensory shows celebrating Champagne history. |
| Embrace Festival Season Along the City Center | Enjoy various cultural festivals and events in the city. |
| Indulge at Historic Biscuiterie Bakeries | Sample traditional biscuits and sweets in Reims. |
2024 brings fresh opportunities to raise a celebratory coupe, honor solemn memorials, embrace exciting new attractions and indulge in la vie joyeuse overflowing around Reims. Read on for the 15 top things to add to your Champagne region bucket list!
Attend the Coronation of the Next French Monarch
Name and Location: Coronation of the French Monarch, Reims Cathedral, Reims, France
History and Significance: For over 1,000 years, Reims Cathedral has been the traditional coronation site for French kings and queens. The next royal coronation will continue this enduring tradition.
What to Expect: Pomp and circumstance as the new monarch is crowned. Celebrations across the city. Once in a lifetime event for visitors.
Visitor Information: Date TBD when it occurs. Cathedral area will be very crowded. Book accommodations far in advance.
Assuming you timed your 2024 visit just right, one opportunity not to be missed includes attending the long-awaited French coronation set to return to Reims Cathedral after over 189 years! While the geopolitical stars would literally need to align for such a rare event on par with a once-in-a-generation experience, history buffs nonetheless shouldn’t miss touring the impressive High Gothic edifice serving as the traditional consecration site for French kings and royal consorts spanning from Frankish leader Clovis in 496 up through Charles X in 1825.
Wander through the vast vaulted interior while imagining previous coronation pomp and circumstance including that of the legendary Joan of Arc who famously stood beside Charles VII here in 1429 after helping lead French troops to push out English forces during the Hundred Years’ War’s Siege of Orléans.
Sip Your Way Through Historic Champagne Houses
Name and Location: Champagne Houses, Reims, France
History and Significance: Reims is at the heart of Champagne production with top champagne houses based here. Some, like Ruinart and Pommery, have centuries of winemaking history.
What to Expect: Guided tours and tastings at historic champagne cellars and vineyards. Learn about the champagne making process.
Visitor Information: Advance reservations required for tours and tastings. Open year-round. Located throughout the Reims area.
As the modern heart of the Champagne winemaking region, a trip to Reims would not be complete without visiting at least one subterranean crayères chalk cellar to learn about the secondary fermentation process that provides Champagne’s signature bubbles. From mammoth houses like Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin or Taittinger to smaller niche producers like Cazals or Pierre Gerbais, options for tour appointments and tastings abound. Make sure to sample different Champagne types ranging from drier “brut” styles all the way to sweeter demi-sec varieties. Cheers to that!
Be Moved at Battle of France Memorials
Name and Location: Battle of France Memorials, Reims, France
History and Significance: As a strategic location, Reims suffered heavy damage during the Battle of France in WWI and WWII. Memorials honor those lost in battle.
What to Expect: Monuments like the 1939 Railway Memorial. Guided tours discuss the battle history and significance. A sobering look at the human toll.
Visitor Information: Located throughout the city. Tours can be booked through the tourism office. Major memorials are accessible year-round.
Beyond just royalty and rambunctious bacchanal celebrations, Reims suffered tremendous damage and loss during both World Wars of the 20th century. Pay homage at the Reims Memorial Museum’s moving galleries recounting regional experiences of soldiers and civilians alike throughout the devastating Great War battles that unfolded nearby. Further northeast outside town lies the Romagne ’14 museum where visitors can traverse through trenches to grasp conditions endured by both sides along former Western Front lines.
To comprehend the mighty struggle faced in Reims specifically, head to the Automne Museum built atop a WWII air raid shelter forimmersive sights and sounds that bring alive the brave spirit of Reims even amid its near obliteration.
Find Whimsical Street Art Across Town
Name and Location: Street Art, Reims, France
History and Significance: Reims has an exceptional street art scene with large murals by international artists. The art livens up the urban landscape.
What to Expect: Colorful, creative murals by artists like Gris1 showcasing different styles from graffiti to stencils and collage art.
Visitor Information: Maps of major works available. Street art walking tours offered. Photographing the art is encouraged.
Reims continues redefining itself as an emerging street art capital with colorful large-scale murals splashed across building facades in and around major public plazas downtown. The annual Vision and Movement street art festival organized each September adds the latest bold artistic statements to an ever-evolving outdoor gallery inviting aimless wanders down side alleys in search of flashes of creativity.
Some standout mural examples to seek out include the massive figure of fashion icon Coco Chanel, giant bird and nature scenes like Le Jardin D’Hiver and emotionally evocative Le Cri peeling back the outer walls to expose ghostly innards of once ruined structures. Who knows what fresh visages might grace Reims’ open air art museum by 2024!
Experience a Sound & Light Show at Reims Cathedral
Name and Location: Reims Cathedral Sound & Light Show, Reims, France
History and Significance: Nightly sound and light shows illuminate the majestic 800 year-old Reims Cathedral with vivid projections and audio.
What to Expect: Colorful lights dancing across the cathedral’s facade. Audio brings the building’s history to life. Lasts ~1 hour.
Visitor Information: Free shows start at dusk. No tickets needed. Good viewpoints around the square. Year-round tradition.
As dusk settles over Reims, be sure to gather with fellow visitors to witness the magnificent nightly light show projected across the impressive Reims Cathedral façade. Watch in awe as colorful lights artfully illuminate intricate carvings and statues while an eclectic soundtrack enhances the overall experience. Different themes rotate to keep the spectacle fresh whether highlighting great moments in French history like Joan of Arc’s journey or syncing up seasonal compositions to match events like Christmas holidays.
Arrive early to grab standing room spots, though true magic sweet spots reveal themselves further back at open air cafés framed by the glowing Gothic masterpiece just across the plaza.
Pause for People Watching at Popular Cafés
Name and Location: Cafés, Reims City Center, Reims, France
**History and Significance:**buzzing café culture that locals embrace as places to see and be seen. Popular spots include Cafe du Palais and Brasserie Excelsior.
What to Expect: Outdoor seating for optimal people watching. Coffee, pastries, light meals. Lively atmosphere to pause and observe local life.
Visitor Information: Cafés clustered around Place Drouet d’Erlon in the city center. Open daily.
Like any respectable French city famed for their particular bubbly local specialty, Reims excels at embracing leisurely café culture with prime outdoor seating terraces for optimal people watching. Join an eclectic mix of locals, students, stylish Parisians relaxing out east and tourists toasting their trip alongside visitor-friendly waitstaff allowing you to linger without pressure over drinks spanning from cappuccinos, Champagne flutes or bold afternoon spritzers.
Hearty snacks like crusty sandwiches, regional cheese or charcuterie boards pair nicely for sustenance on the go while you eavesdrop to lively conversations in the passageway. Wherever you choose to post up, Reims’ convivial atmosphere promises to envelop you in due time!
Hunt for Vintage Bottles at the Covered Markets
Name and Location: Covered Markets, Reims, France
History and Significance: Reims has two main covered markets dating back to the 1920s – Halles du Boulingrin and Marche Saint-Remi. Vendors sell regional produce, flowers, and more.
What to Expect: Stalls selling gourmet local food, antique bottles, gifts, flowers, and daily needs. Bustling atmosphere with locals shopping.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Sunday. Halles du Boulingrin open longer hours. Historic architecture and murals at the markets.
For provisions to craft an impromptu picnic or takeaway gifts for loved ones back home, make your way to Les Halles du Boulingrin—Reims’ converted iron-and-glass market structure dating back to the late 1920s. Squeeze down aisles past stalls overflowing with just-picked produce, aromatic cheeses and cured meats while keeping eyes peeled for vintage Champagne bottles tucked around less obvious corners. Scout labels from previous vintages or limited cuvées tracking the evolution of certain houses and bottlings that allow memorable moments to be relived or preserved years later, not too unlike the bubbles themselves!
Just be sure to bubble wrap carefully for transporting any liquid treasures home intact.
Wander through History in Saint-Remi Basilica
Name and Location: Saint-Remi Basilica, Reims, France
History and Significance: This Romanesque abbey church was founded in the 11th century with elaborate relics of its namesake, Bishop Remigius. A historic site on the Route Romane.
What to Expect: Guided and self-tour options. Intricate architecture and tapestries. Saint’s relics on display. Adjacent museum covers the site’s history.
Visitor Information: Located ~2km from Reims center. Open daily. Small fee for tours. Nearby parking available.
While the resplendent Reims Cathedral garners most visitor attention, the lesser-visited Saint-Remi Basilica situated just south of the historic center offers equally impressive interiors and abbeys recounting the history of French Catholicism since medieval eras. Dating portions back to the 11th century Romanesque period, highlights include intricate tapestries, elaborate reliquaries and the elaborately carved tomb of Saint Remigius himself located in the choir space where French kings would stop to offer prayer before proceeding to Reims Cathedral for their coronation ceremonies.
Above ground, stroll through monastery gardens abundant with roses and medicinal plants that monks cultivated through the ages for sanctuary solace outside chaotic worldly affairs.
Day Trip Back in Time to Épernay
Name and Location: Épernay, France
History and Significance: The small town of Épernay near Reims is considered the capital of champagne due to major houses like Moët et Chandon based here. Picturesque historic architecture.
What to Expect: More intimate champagne tours and tastings. Bustling main avenue. Quaint cafes and shops with village vibes.
Visitor Information: 25 min by train from Reims. Can easily visit for a day trip. Walkable town center.
While just 30 minutes south from Reims proper awaits Épernay and its Avenue de Champagne remarkably lined by Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët and Pol Roger houses, the ride there rewards with gorgeous views across sloping vineyards framing the river Marne. Once arrived, this smaller more intimate town invites long meandering strolls to admire aristocratic 18th century architecture and perhaps call in a few tasting appointments at smaller grower estates not as readily found on standard Reims itineraries.
Pop into wine shops like La Cave d’Épernay to source unique vintage bottles hard to encounter elsewhere. When hunger strikes, sit for canalside lunches at Michelin recommended brasseries like Le Royal Champagne Hotel or casual creperies reminding that Épernay offers tastiness pairing beautifully with its bubbly bounty!
Celebrate the Fizz at Habits de Lumières Shows
Name and Location: Habits de Lumière Shows, Reims, France
History and Significance: Innovative Habits de Lumière art shows illuminate Reims landmarks at night with captivating video projections on the buildings’ facades.
What to Expect: Colorful, dynamic video projections with music. Annual springtime events at several historic sites like the Cathedral and Carnegie Library.
Visitor Information: Free outdoor shows at dusk. Dates vary yearly. Arrive early for good viewing spots. All ages event.
For an immersive experience celebrating the rich history of Champagne set to artistic video projections and music, check out the innovative multi-sensory Habits de Lumières shows hosted at the Villa Bissinger. Wander through several rooms of this unique townhouse to learn the origins behind Benedictine monks first taming wild yeasts into fledgling wines all the way through the glamour of modern day Champagne now enjoyed globally.
Different themes rotate every few months keeping visits fresh whether highlighting processes of the harvest or providing whimsical perspectives on holiday traditions infused into regional identity. Expect to leave both enlightened and entertained!
Embrace Festival Season Along the City Center
Name and Location: Reims Festivals, Reims City Center, Reims, France
History and Significance: Reims celebrates everything from champagne to puppetry with lively street festivals throughout the year. Major events include Fêtes Johanniques in June and Flâneries Musicales in September.
What to Expect: Outdoor concerts, parades, food stalls, circus acts, street performers, fireworks. Festive atmosphere with locals celebrating.
Visitor Information: Festival dates vary yearly. Most are free and open to all. Book hotels well in advance.
A continuous lineup of cultural festivals and events fills Reims public squares and open infrastructure from early spring onwards, bringing welcome energy and enthusiasm to both locals and visiting fans. Highlights range from June’s massive Fête de la Musique concert series to trusting your tastebuds at September’s Forum des Vignerons showcasing small production Reims houses or even enjoying outdoor Christmas markets and associated accommodation booking infamy during tinsel-tinged December.
Whenever you visit, lively entertainment awaits with open arms invitation! Just be sure to book any hotel stay months ahead to avoid scrambling last minute.
Indulge at Historic Biscuiterie Bakeries
Name and Location: Biscuiterie Fossier, Reims, France
History and Significance: Biscuiterie Fossier is Reims’ famous gourmet biscuit (cookie) shop founded in 1756. Their pink biscuits are a beloved regional treat.
Many global sweets hounds recognize Reims as a premier destination in France’s northeast pocket to sample indulgent biscuits tracing their origins back over 150 years at family-run establishments like beloved BIscuiterie Fossier. Sample buttery wafers sandwiched with silky chocolate ganache that melt delicately on the tongue or their signature pink praline creations packing a sweet fruity punch in trademark collectible tins.
Reims promises no shortage of patisseries windows tempting those craving a nibble alongside their Champagne flutes, but do save room for these historic biscuitiers continuing age-old local traditions. Because a trip to Reims would not be complete without bringing home a few iconic rosy tins as edible souvenirs!
Conclusion – An Effervescent Escape Beckons in Reims
From regal coronation and abbeys to effervescent wines pairing divinely with indulgent biscuits, Reims promises not just quintessential French sophistication but also modern energy as it continues rising resiliently from the ashes of an obliterated past. Use this list of top things to do in Reims 2024 as a launch pad while leaving room for fleeting fancies and spontaneous detours as new moments await around cobblestoned corners. Heading to Strasbourg or Nice next? No matter which direction inspiration bubbles up, create adventures yielding memories to raise a glass to long after bidding Reims adieu!