A 2 or 3-day weekend in Reims? A tailor-made program

When one thinks of Reims, one necessarily thinks of «champagne.» Yes, the The City of Coronations is a paradise for lovers of fine champagne wines, but the city holds true treasures to discover: with two thousand years of history, exceptional restaurants, and extraordinary hotels, Reims (which, let's remember, is only 45 minutes from Paris) is worth a long weekend.

Want an escape that combines culture and well-being, all close to Paris? Look no further: a Week-endnto Reims is assuredly the promise of a fulfilling stay. Two thousand years old, the city bears witness to an incredibly rich architectural past, from the Gothic cathedral, famous for its role in French history as the coronation site of kings, to the Art Deco buildings that testify to the city's splendor between the two World Wars, the cellars of the great houses – beneath the streets – where exceptional vintages rest, and of course, superb restaurants and magnificent hotels.

Friday afternoon

To make the most of your weekend, it's best to arrive early on Friday afternoon to begin with a visit to the Simon-Marcq workshops. This workshop is part of the city's heritage, as it was founded in 1640. Dedicated to the art of stained glass, it is naturally located within the Sacred Heart Church. Run by two Reims natives, Philippe Varin and Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, it offers a chance to discover this sacred art through a 10-minute film on the work of glass and its evolution, before seeing the work of the stained glass artisans in person (allow 45 minutes for the visit). Dedicated to the creation and restoration of stained glass windows, the workshop has also collaborated with great artists, from Marc Chagall to Maria Helena Viera da Silva.

Simon Marq Workshops
48 Ernest Renan Street, 51100 Reims

For the hotel? life in a castle Les Crayères Estate…

We can't stay here without booking at least one night at the in the’Hotel in Reims Domaine Les Crayères. A true institution in the Champagne capital, the hotel and its exceptional restaurant enjoy an international reputation. A deserved notoriety, given the establishment's impressive collection of distinctions. A château in the purest French classical style: three Michelin keys, a two-Michelin-star gastronomic restaurant led by Chef Christophe Moret (Le Parc), Best Spirits Offering in France, Best Champagne and Sparkling Wine List in the World... The former home of Louise Pommery is now part of the Gardinier family. It celebrates a preserved art of living, in the heart of a seven-hectare park. Magnified by decorator Yves Rochon, this château, built in the early 20th century, offers a journey into the heart of French art de vivre.

Les Crayères Estate
20 keys starting from €780
64 Henry Vasnier Boulevard, 51100 Reims

... or ustay Art Deco at La Caserne Chanzy

Facing Notre-Dame Cathedral, this former fire station dating back to 1926 creates a bridge between styles and eras, from Gothic to Art Deco. An integral part of Autograph Collection (Marriott's luxury hotel group), the hotel Reims It recalls its original purpose through many architectural details. Its drying tower, a vast glass roof, and a winter garden give a unique charm to this hotel of 89 keys (including 17 suites), a good portion of which overlook the cathedral.

If you can, book the Skyline room, which offers a 180° view of Reims' rooftops. For dining, La Grande Georgette offers an elegant brasserie menu. After a day of sightseeing, a visit to the Deep Nature spa is a must: sauna, hammam, hydromassage jets, nothing is missing to relax and prepare for an evening out.

Chanzy Barracks 
89 keys from €226 per night
18 Tronsson Ducoudray Street, 51100 Reims

A wine cellar for a friendly wine and dine gathering

To wrap up this first day, there’s nothing like a quick stroll around the Halles du Boulingrin to mingle with the locals at Le Pressoir, a wine cellar run by two passionate young owners. The shop on the ground floor, the cellar carved into the chalk and furnished like a wine cellar, with over 1,200 varieties of wine, champagne, and spirits—you’re all set for a long evening putting the world to rights on a barstool in front of a large wooden barrel serving as a table. Now’s your chance to taste the Taittinger Prestige cuvée, a blend of the three Champagne grape varieties (40% of Chardonnay, 60% of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from over 35 crus) while nibbling on slices of Catalan truffle fuet, smoked Galician sardines, Reims ham, or salmon from Kaviari.

The Press
21 Henri IV Street, 51100 Reims

Saturday morning: vsite dTaittinger sparkling wine 

The Taittinger House has renovated its historic headquarters located at 9 Place Saint Nicaise. Visitors can now discover the historical riches of this house, founded in 1734, in an elegant and contemporary style. A bright nave, a bar, Taittinger Collection bottles, tasting rooms, and a concept store offering pretty designer items, ceramics, and books complete the experience. Don't miss the contemporary stained glass window signed by the Simon-Marq Workshops, as is fitting. The newly redeveloped gardens will soon welcome the public, and a restaurant may open its doors.

The crayères of Butte Saint-Nicaise, listed by UNESCO, house the winery's cellars and their treasures: thousands of bottles, including the prestigious Comte de Champagne vintages, which age there for over ten years. The «Instant Gourmet» package offers a guided tour by an expert, followed by a tasting of two iconic vintages from the house (Prestige Rosé and Brut Millésimé), accompanied by five bites created by chef Philippe Mille (former chef of Les Crayères, who has just opened his own restaurant in Reims) and prepared by M Réceptions.

Champagne Taittinger
9, Place Saint-Nicaise, Reims

Saturday noon: dBreakfast at Café du Palais

After visiting the champagne houses, the Café du Palais (named as such because it faces the Palais de Justice) is more than just a restaurant in Reims; it's an institution. Opened in 1930, it has been run by the same family for five generations. Beneath the large glass roof and its 1928 stained-glass window, the café's eclectic decor happily blends Art Deco with works by artists (including a drawing by Marc Chagall). The atmosphere is cheerful, the service is friendly and attentive, and the classic, generous menu (sweetbreads, andouillette gratin with Chaource cheese, veal blanquette) is wonderfully complemented by a fine wine list by the glass and a good selection of champagnes.

14 Place Myron Herrick, 51100 Reims

After lunch: a vGuided tour on the theme of’Art Deco

After a good lunch, a walk is in order. But not just any walk. We take the opportunity to discover Reims' architectural heritage from an Art Deco perspective, an important period for this city destroyed after World War I and rebuilt in the 1920s. On the program for this stroll through time, emblematic buildings from this period immerse us in the city's history... a century ago. The former Opéra cinema, the Carnegie Library, the Boulingrin Market Halls with their concrete shells, and the buildings on Rue de Talleyrand and Place Drouet d'Erlon, accompanied by a guide-lecturer, allow us to delve into the intricacies of this fascinating style.

At aperitif time, head to the Wine Bar

Located on the Forum square, not far from the cathedral, the WineBar offers a pleasant terrace, perfect for an aperitif. This is the right place in Reims: awarded the prize for Best Sparkling Wine List in France (with 700 references!), the Wine Bar is one of three establishments in Reims owned by the Papavero family, who also run the Vintage and Vintage Whisky wine shops. You can taste a perfect champagne for an aperitif here, such as Taittinger's Brut Prestige, while nibbling on tapas made with local produce.

16 place du Forum, 51100 Reims

The dGourmet dinner in the park

Back to Domaine des Crayères to discover the cuisine of Chef Christophe Moret at Le Parc, the gastronomic restaurant of Les Crayères. At the helm of this restaurant, adorned with two Michelin stars, this chef with a prestigious background (he notably led the kitchen at Plaza Athénée) offers cuisine rich in flavor and generous. The five-course signature menu (appetizer, fish, meat, cheese, and dessert) is paired with an unforgettable wine experience, thanks to the wealth of the cellars, which boast over 3,500 references, including 1,200 champagnes.

Signature Menu €270, wine pairing €140
64 Henry Vasnier Boulevard, 51100 Reims

Strolls Sunday and addresses for a good lunch

On the morning's program, the former Benedictine abbey of Saint-Rémi and the Musée-Hôtel Le Vergeur are among the must-see attractions. Around the tomb of Saint Rémi, the bishop known for baptizing Clovis, the former abbey houses a museum dedicated to the history of the city and its surroundings. Around the cloister, 17 rooms are filled with historical treasures, tapestries, prehistoric artifacts, medieval sculptures, and military objects. In a different style, the Musée-Hôtel Le Vergeur offers an immersion into the home of the great bourgeois patron Hugues Krafft (1853-1935), with collections of furniture and art objects.

At lunch, a gastronomic experience at Racine

Awarded two Michelin stars, this restaurant located just a stone's throw from the cathedral promises a unique experience in Reims with the cuisine of Japanese chef Kazuyuki Tanaka.

For lunch, the Suki menu – with its amuse-bouches, three courses, several desserts, and petit fours – is based on solid French haute cuisine experience gained in prestigious establishments, combined with the chef's Japanese culture. Memorable.

6 Place Godinot, 51100 Reims

More relaxed, Le Crypto is a bistronomic brasserie on the Place du Forum, offering gourmet cuisine from chef-owner Frédéric Dupont, whose menu is appetite-whetting from the moment you read it: pan-fried veal sweetbreads, braising jus with summer truffle, seared albacore tuna, piquillo pepper emulsion. All served with a wine list open to many horizons.

14 Forum Square, 51100 Reims

And to finish... the cathedral

A visit to Notre-Dame Cathedral in Reims is an essential stop for any weekend in the Champagne capital. At 2 PM on Sundays, a guided tour allows you to discover the secrets of this Gothic masterpiece built in the 13th century, whose history is inextricably linked to that of France. It was here that the kings of France were crowned, and it was also here that Joan of Arc led Charles VII in 1429 to affirm his legitimacy on the throne of France against the claims of the English. The multicolored stained-glass windows (some signed by Marc Chagall) and the famous Smiling Angel illuminate this visit.