Dating in Reims, the city of royal coronations

Around the cathedral

Notre-Dame de Reims, a 13th-century Gothic masterpiece listed by UNESCO, is known for its two thousand three hundred sculptures and the Smiling Angel that watches over its northern portal. Right next door, the Palais du Tau, former residence of the archbishops, keeps the treasures of the coronations. A coffee on Place du Cardinal-Luçon, facing the façade, then a visit together: a grand yet warm first act.

Saint-Remi, sanctuary of kings

More discreet, Saint-Remi basilica, also a UNESCO site, holds the tomb of the saint who baptised Clovis at the end of the 5th century. Its long Romanesque nave, carved capitals and old stained-glass windows plunge you into a rare silence. The former abbey next door is now the Saint-Remi Museum, where you can trace the whole history of Champagne. A cultural date that leaves plenty of time to walk back to the centre.

Roman remains and grand squares

Reims also has a Roman past: the Porte de Mars, a 3rd-century arch, is the largest preserved in Europe. The cryptoporticus and Place du Forum recall the city of Durocortorum. Place Royale, laid out in the 18th century, is lined with colonnades and a statue of Louis XV. On Lyad, the people of Reims share their favourite terraces; it is up to you to find someone to raise a glass with.