Free walking tours in Reims and what to see

Must-sees

Reims is the great city of Champagne and for centuries was where the kings of France were crowned. The Gothic cathedral of Notre-Dame is impressive for its façade covered in statues, among them the famous Smiling Angel, and for its stained glass, some designed by Chagall. Next to it, the Palais du Tau, the former archbishops’ residence, holds the cathedral treasury and coronation objects. To the south, the Basilica of Saint-Remi keeps the tomb of the bishop who baptised Clovis. All three monuments are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The other side of Reims is underground. The champagne houses occupy old chalk quarries and kilometres of galleries where the bottles rest, especially on the Saint-Nicaise hill, part of the Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars World Heritage Site. Many can be visited with a tasting. Above ground, the Porte de Mars, a Roman arch, the Museum of the Surrender, where the German capitulation of 1945 was signed, and lively Place Drouet-d’Erlon round off the walk.

Free tours and guided visits

Rather than free walking tours, what’s on offer in Reims revolves around champagne. There are city tours with a cellar visit, trips combining Reims with Épernay or with Hautvillers, the village linked to Dom Pérignon, and routes through the vineyards of Épernay, Hautvillers and Mareuil-sur-Ay. You can also tour the hillsides by e-bike or take a city tour that ends at a great champagne house with a tasting.

How long to spend

In one day you can see the cathedral, the Palais du Tau and a cellar, but it is rushed. Two days is ideal: the first for the centre, the Basilica of Saint-Remi and the champagne houses; the second for heading out to the Montagne de Reims and Épernay, with its Avenue de Champagne. Book cellar visits in advance, as places are limited, and if you are going to taste champagne, leave the car behind or choose a designated driver.

Where to stay

To do everything on foot, stay in the centre, between the cathedral and Place Drouet-d’Erlon, where the restaurants are and the station is close by. If your plan is to tour the cellars, the Saint-Remi and Saint-Nicaise area puts you next to the great champagne houses. With a car, the villages of the Montagne de Reims offer guesthouses among the vineyards, quieter for sleeping.