Choose from 6 Fun Things to Do in Reims
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Taittinger
Unlike many of the other prominent champagne producers in Reims, Taittinger Champagne house carries the distinction of being owned and operated by the same family who opened its doors in 1930. It may not be the oldest champagne producer, but it is regarded as among the best, bearing a grand marque, the highest honor in French Champagne.
In addition to its famed champagnes, Taittinger also carries a reputation for being very visitor-friendly. Tours include a film, a guided walk through its cellars and plenty of interesting anecdotes about Reim, and the hostesses are capable interpreters.
In addition to its famed champagnes, Taittinger also carries a reputation for being very visitor-friendly. Tours include a film, a guided walk through its cellars and plenty of interesting anecdotes about Reim, and the hostesses are capable interpreters.
In the vein of interesting anecdotes, the Marquetterie gardens, prior to the establisment of the Taittinger vineyards, were also a base of operations for WWI General Joseph Joffre, from which he directed a number of famous battles. Perhaps less auspiciously, the Taittinger vineyards were also featured in the international scavenger-hunt show Amazing Race 16, during which competitors had to pour out a magnum of Taittinger champagne as part of a clue and find a bunch of grapes among the winter-dormant vines.
Practical Info
The Taittinger family, in addition to the champagne vintages that made it famous, is also known for its large stake in Concord hotels. Its flagship, is the famed the Hotel Crillon in Paris.
Address: Reims, France, France
Hours: From mid March to mid November : everyday, sundays and bank holidays.
From mid November to mid March : Monday to Friday (closed on bank holidays)
Admission: €56
From $ 139
Palais du Tau (Tau Palace)
The Palais du Tau (Tau Palace) owes its decidedly un-French name to its floor plan, which resembles the letter "T." The site's original structure was a sixth-century Roman villa, which later became a Carolingian palace. Its current moniker stuck after 1131, though that building gave way to Gothic design early in the 16th century and then its current Baroque incarnation in 1671.
Prior to their coronations at Nortre Dame of Reims, the kings of France would stay at the palace. Following ceremonies, they would return for a celebration, the most recent of which took place in 1825.
Prior to their coronations at Nortre Dame of Reims, the kings of France would stay at the palace. Following ceremonies, they would return for a celebration, the most recent of which took place in 1825.
In the last quarter of the 20th century, the Palace of Tau became home to the Musée de l'Œuvre, a collection of statues, tapestries and reliquaries from Reims' cathedral. The palace is both a national monument and a UNESCO World Heritage site, declared in 1991. Museum tours display the royal apartments as well as certain antiquities from the cathedral treasury.
Practical Info
Perhaps the most amazing and compelling of the cathedral's treasures on display are the remains of the Holy Ampulla, the coronation flask used since the anointing of Clovis in the fifth century, as well as the ninth-century Talisman of Charlemagne.
Address: France
From $ 9
House of Mumm
In 1827, three German brothers brought their experience of producing and merchandising wine to the Champagne region. Jacobus, Gottlieb and Phillip Mumm founded the House of Mumm, and set about producing some of the most well-regarded and celebrated champagnes in the world.
In 1852, the business was taken over by Georges Hermann Mumm, and under his direction, the winery was producing over 3 million bottles of champagne a year. In the 1920s, a Parisian lawyer named Rene LaLou became president, and for the next 50 years, Mumm champagnes greatly increased the house's output while maintaining the quality of the product set a century before. A period of malaise and lackluster vintages followed his death, but in the 1990s, technological innovations and tinkering with the grape compositions ensured that the legendary excellence of Mumm champagnes was here to stay.
Practical Info
Tour through the various stages of production, as you wander through the cool, subterranean cellars with your guide. The cellars are also home to a museum of the House of Mumm and the history of champagne. These conclude with a tasting of the world-famous Cordon Rouge and Cordon Rouge Vintage or of Mumm Grand Cru and Mumm Brut Rosé. In Reims, there are the usual Gothic cathedrals and World War II monuments found throughout the region and throughout France. Visitors may want to take a break from sightseeing, and Reims has several nice parks; in particular, the Park de la Patte d'Oie has fountains, an artificial river and a children's area.
Address: Reims, France, France
Hours: Open daily
Admission: €18
From $ 23
Reims Cathedral of Notre Dame
Notre-Dame de Reims is known as the seat of the region’s archdiocese and also the location of coronations for kings of France. Built on the former site of a church that was destroyed by fire in 1211, the impressive portals, statues and spires of Notre Dame have become one of the most popular attractions in Reims.
After taking in the chevet’s ornate exterior and Notre Dame’s famous rose window, travelers can venture indoors where colorful stained glass dating back to the 13th and 20th centuries decorates the nave and altar. A vast collection of tapestries, including a series representing the life of the Virgin Mary, is also on display, and the church’s treasury, dating back some 800 years, showcases rare artifacts like a holy flask broken during the French Revolution.
After taking in the chevet’s ornate exterior and Notre Dame’s famous rose window, travelers can venture indoors where colorful stained glass dating back to the 13th and 20th centuries decorates the nave and altar. A vast collection of tapestries, including a series representing the life of the Virgin Mary, is also on display, and the church’s treasury, dating back some 800 years, showcases rare artifacts like a holy flask broken during the French Revolution.
Practical Info
The cathedral is located at 3 rue Guillaume de Machault in Reims. More than one million travelers visit Notre Dame each year.
Address: Place du Cardinal Luçon, Reims 51100, France
Hours: Open Daily 7:30am-7:30pm
From $ 139
Champagne Pommery
Founded in 1858 by Alexandre Louis Pommery and Narcisse Greno, Champagne Pommery was at one time better known for its wool trading than for its bubbly. Today, however, this massive house is one of the Champagne region’s largest producers of the popular celebratory beverage and a destination for travelers seeking to sample sparkling glasses in the same setting where it’s produced.
Visitors can tour the network of chalk pits that sits beneath the city of Reims, where more than 20 million bottles of champagne are stored in a natural temperature-controlled environment. Guided tours include a trip around the grounds, a visit to the cellars and a detailed explanation of how this favorite beverage is produced, bottled and distributed.
Visitors can tour the network of chalk pits that sits beneath the city of Reims, where more than 20 million bottles of champagne are stored in a natural temperature-controlled environment. Guided tours include a trip around the grounds, a visit to the cellars and a detailed explanation of how this favorite beverage is produced, bottled and distributed.
Practical Info
Pommery is located at 5 Place du General Gouraud in Reims. The house produces some 500,000 cases of champagne per year. Tours take place daily, including public holidays and weekends.
Address: 5 Avenue du Général Giraud, Reims 51100, France
Hours: Daily 9:30am-5pm
Admission: Tour prices vary
From $ 199
Hautvillers
Just north of popular Épernay, Hautvillers at first may seem like just another village in the countryside. But for true fans of Champagne, it has become a pilgrim's destination. That's because it is the birthplace of Champagne! The town's Saint-Pierre Abbey is where Dom Pérignon first made the bubbly elixir, and today he is buried in the abbey, now owned by Moët & Chandon.
But there's more to Hautvillers than simply this historical fact. A stroll through the streets reveals the whimsical iron signs that grace every public or commercial building and what lies within. And there are wine tastings at Au 36, charming dining options and lots of activities nearby. Hautvillers' motto is “Entre Vignes et Forêts,” meaning between the vineyards and the forest–the perfect place to discover the magic of this verdant region.
Practical Info
Hautvillers is located 3.5 miles north of Épernay. From the train station at Épernay there are regular shuttle buses to Hautvillers in the high season. In the low season or if on a schedule, taxis are available as well.
Address: Hautvillers, France
From $ 87