Hotels in Reims

Reims: Coronation City of the Champagne Country

Reims sits 130 km northeast of Paris in the Champagne-Ardenne region, reachable in 45 minutes by TGV from Gare de l'Est. The city's defining landmark is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, a Gothic structure completed in the 13th century where 33 French kings were crowned — from Louis VIII in 1223 to Charles X in 1825. The west façade carries over 2,300 sculpted figures, including the celebrated Smiling Angel carved around 1240.

Where to Stay and What Draws Visitors

Most hotels concentrate near the Place Drouet-d'Erlon, the central pedestrian axis lined with cafés and brasseries, and around the Boulingrin market hall, a 1929 reinforced-concrete structure still used for weekend food markets. Visitors arrive primarily to tour the Champagne houses — Taittinger, Mumm, and Ruinart all operate cellars dug into Roman chalk quarries beneath the city. The Musée des Beaux-Arts holds one of France's largest collections of Cranach portraits.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: TGV from Paris Gare de l'Est takes 45 minutes; trains run roughly every hour.
• Champagne cellar tours: Book at least one week ahead for Taittinger or Mumm; most tours require advance reservation.
• Best walking base: Hotels on or within two blocks of Place Drouet-d'Erlon give walkable access to the cathedral, cellars, and the Palais du Tau museum.
• Timing: The Fêtes Johanniques festival in late May draws large crowds — book accommodation several weeks in advance.