Coronations, a Romanesque basilica and the room where the war ended

Reims is a cathedral, a basilica and miles of chalk cellars, and everything central is walkable from Erlon or Cathédrale. I'd give it one full day.

1. Stand where Charles VII was crowned

Notre-Dame de Reims is where Charles VII was crowned on 17 July 1429, with Joan of Arc present. I'd go early, before the coach parties.

2. Eat with the kings at the Tau

The Palais du Tau, next to the cathedral, held the coronation banquets, the first recorded in 990 and the last in 1825. I found no current timetable on a page I could read, so check before you walk over.

3. Walk south to Saint-Remi

The Basilique Saint-Remi was consecrated by Pope Leo IX in 1049, and it's called the largest Romanesque church in northern France. The coronation route, the Voie des Sacres, runs from here to the cathedral.

4. See the 02:41 room

At the Musée de la Reddition, Germany signed its surrender at 02:41 on 7 May 1945 in the war room of Eisenhower's headquarters, SHAEF. The room is preserved inside what is now the Lycée Roosevelt.

5. Go 18 metres under Taittinger

Taittinger runs visits in chalk cellars about 18 metres down, quarried in Gallo-Roman times. Its 2024 press kit priced visits from €40. Neither Taittinger nor the other houses say anything about visitor parking on pages I could read; I'd walk from the centre or take the tram.

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Pink biscuits, Reims ham and a Boulingrin Saturday

1. Shop the Boulingrin on Saturday

The Halles du Boulingrin market runs Wednesday 07:00–13:00, Friday 07:00–13:00 and 16:00–20:00, and Saturday 06:00–14:00. Saturday is the long one.

2. Dip a biscuit rose

Biscuiterie Fossier has made biscuits since 1756 and is closed on Sundays. The biscuit rose is meant for dipping in champagne or port.

3. Order jambon de Reims at the Palais

Café du Palais sits under an Art Deco glass roof and serves Reims ham and salade champenoise. It's closed on Sundays and Mondays.

4. Taste growers, not only houses

Trésors de Champagne is run by a club of 26 independent growers. It's where I'd buy, rather than in a house shop.

5. Take a Chaource home

Chaource is the soft, mildly salty cow's milk cheese of the region. It travels well enough for one night in a hotel fridge.

I'd eat at the Boulingrin and spend the champagne budget on a grower.

A station Christmas market and Joan of Arc in May

1. Expect the market by the station

The 2025 Christmas market ran from 26 November to 28 December, with about 150 chalets on the Hautes Promenades next to Reims-Centre station. The 2026 dates weren't officially published on 14 October.

2. Take the tram to the chalets

For 2025 the advice was the free P+R plus a free Christmas shuttle from Stade Delaune and Marchandeau. I'd do the same on weekends.

3. Plan May for the medieval parade

Reims, l'Épopée Légendaire, the old Fêtes johanniques, ran on 30–31 May 2026, with a night parade from Saint-Remi to the cathedral. For 2027 only "May" is published.

Toussaint (1 November) and Armistice Day (11 November) are public holidays, so the meters rest.

Clovis's bishop, a coronation town and the end of a war

1. Thank Saint Remi for the kings

Bishop Remi baptised Clovis, king of the Franks, which is why French kings came to Reims to be crowned. The abbey grew around his tomb.

2. Remember 1962 in the cathedral

De Gaulle and Adenauer sealed Franco-German reconciliation in the cathedral in 1962. Saint-Remi and the Tau had both been badly damaged in the First World War.

3. Mark 23:01 on 8 May 1945

The surrender signed in Reims set the end of hostilities for 23:01 on 8 May 1945. Berlin's second signing was timed to match it.