Reims, 144 km (90 miles) northeast of Paris in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France (map), is the unofficial champagne wine capital of the world.

The largest city in the region (population 183,000), it is still a delightfully manageable place.

What to See & Do

Here you are in the heart of Champagne, and Reims is home to several well-known brands of champagne, as well as many smaller houses. Visiting a champagne house is interesting and informative, and the tasting at the end is always a pleasure. More...

If you can walk for an hour, you can see almost all of it on foot, including its great Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, the neighboring archbishop's palace now a museum called the Palais du Tau, the Roman Porte de Mars monumental arch, and the Musée de la Reddition where German military commanders signed documents of unconditional surrender ending World War II in Europe.

Speaking of World Wars, Reims makes a good base for visiting the many World War I battlefields, monuments and memorials in northern France. More...

Heavily damaged by bombing in World War I, Reims was rebuilt extensively after the war in Art Deco style during the 1920s and 1930s.

If you're a devotee of this style, you'll revel in Reims' street after street of great public buildings and small residences in artful Art Deco—the style of the jazz age.

The Grand Théatre, which is just around the corner from the Cathédrale, is an example of Art Deco:

Transportation

You can easily visit Reims, sample the wines of its great champagne wineries, and return to Paris the same day, although an overnight excursion or, for true champagne lovers, several days and nights, is much better. More...

Where to Stay

Reims and nearby towns have close to a hundred hotels, inns and rental apartments/flats. Because it is so easy to reach from Paris, Reims is the optimal base for your Champagne region explorations. More...

Tourist Information

Reims has two tourist information offices to serve you. The main office is near the cathedral, and a smaller, seasonal office is near the train station. More...

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Hotels in Reims Reims Restaurants What to See & Do Reims Transportation Tourist Information Visiting Champagne Houses Épernay Champagne Region Northern France