Reims Travel Guide

Reims is at its best from April to October, when the vines are green and the weather mild; the mid-September to October harvest fills the countryside with festival spirit. Recommended: morning at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame for its rose windows and angel sculptures, plus the Basilica of Saint-Remi and the Palais du Tau; afternoon at a champagne house to tour the cellars and taste the cuvées, venturing into the vineyards if you drive; finish with a glass of bubbly in an old-town tavern. Just 45 minutes from Paris by TGV, it works for a day trip or as a base for the wider Champagne region. Expect premium, champagne-culture pricing, and book the grand maisons in advance. Crowned by history and lifted by sparkling wine, Reims lingers pleasantly.