Traveling in France #2: Reims

We recently traveled to Reims to meet Greg's cousin Geoff and his wife Yoshiko.  They were finishing a vacation in nearby Germany and stopped over in Reims.  We enjoyed our day together, catching up while touring Reims.  

Geoff, Yoshiko and Greg

Reims is located in the Champagne region of northeast France, not far from Paris.  Reims is known for its beautiful and very large cathedral, Notre-Dame de Reims.    

If you think the church looks like Notre-Dame de Paris, you are correct.  An earlier Reims cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1210 and a new cathedral was built in its place in the style of Notre-Dame de Paris.  The new cathedral was completed in 1275 and remains the second largest in France, as measured by interior area.  (The cathedral in Amiens is the largest.)  

Aside from size and beauty, Notre-Dame de Reims is important because it is the church where most French kings were crowned.   You can see the list below.  

A scale model of the cathedral

Below is some history about the current cathedral and the earlier churches on the site.  

The cathedral has lovely stained glass windows--both old and modern.

Some of the windows were designed by artist Marc Chagall.

During the Hundred Years' War, Joan of Arc played an important in the coronation of King Charles VII at Reims in 1429.  A chapel in the cathedral is dedicated to her.  

The chapel has new stained glass windows.

Reims was the scene of fighting during World War I and the cathedral was damaged as a result.

The cathderal was the site of the 1962 Franco-German reconciliation.

Reims is a relatively small and walkable town.  We enjoyed visiting a main square, with its Subé Fountain and Winged Victory on top.  

Since it was Spring, we enjoyed the town's lovely flowers.

During our stroll, we found a memorial to victims of the German Occupation, 1940-1944.  

We also found a Roman-era monument pictured below.  The triumphal arch dates from the 200's and is known as the Porte de Mars.  Reims became a Roman town during the conquest of Gaul.  

We enjoyed a delicious lunch in Reims at the Brasserie le Boulingrin.  We recommend it.  

Next Up:  Tomorrow, May 8, is a national holiday in France.  Do you know why Reims played a key role in the creation of that holiday?