“A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral”

– Antoine de Saint Exupery

The city of Reims – which French people pronounce “ranse”(not exactly though but that is as close as we can get) – has a very rich history. During the Roman Empire, it was a powerful town called Durocortorum and stood as the Capital of the Gallia-Belgica province.

In the early Middle Ages, Western Europe was fragmented into various independent kingdoms, whose leaders tried to extend at the expense of their neighbors. The current Champagne area was controlled by a Germanic tribe: The Franks. Their leader – Clovis – was a pagan who, throughout the years, conquered numerous territories and build up a vast kingdom, a predecessor of France as we know it today. At the end of the fifth century, Clovis decided to convert to Christianity in Reims. Clovis’s baptism established the link between the French monarchy and the Church. In memory of this event, 33 French kings came back to Reims to get crowned in the “City of Coronations”.

These coronation ceremonies required a proper venue that could met their royal prestige. Hence, the beautiful Notre Dame de Reims Cathedral – a Gothic piece of art – was built from the end of 13^thcentury. Until 1825, it hosted the coronations of the French monarchs.

Apart from the Cathedral, your passionate guide will make you discover other iconic buildings of Reims. As 85% of the town got destroyed during WWI, it features an Art-Déco architecture, which originates from the reconstruction and gives it its DNA. Indeed, among the major French cities, Reims was the most-severely affected by the Great War. In the 1920s, almost every block in the city had to be rebuilt. The area was turned into a gigantic construction yard, in which the Art-Déco style played a major role. A walk through the streets of Reims city center with your guide will help you uncover this part of the regional legacy.

Wine production in Champagne started with the Roman Empire. From that time, the Champagne “terroir” has proven its predispositions for vine-growing. Its chalky soil provides a constant and natural irrigation of the vines, while it retains the nutrients as the water is drained through. The area benefits from the influences of both the oceanic climate and the continental climate, which result in constant & moderate rainfall, relatively-low changes of temperature over the year, and sufficient sunlight during summer for grape ripening.

In the late 17th century, a monk called Dom Pierre Perignon invented the wine blending process in his abbey of Hautvillers. He realized that he could achieve a better quality by pressing together grapes of different varietals and different plots. Since then, blending has been a key feature of the Champagne wines.

For this reason, the charming village of Hautvillers is considered as the birthplace of Champagne-making and it is a must-see for any visitor in Champagne. You will trace the history of Champagne with your guide during a commented walk through the picturesque streets of the village, and into its church, where the famous monk is buried!

Reims and its surrounding areas were severely affected during the First World War. In the city, people escaped the shells by hiding in the Champagne cellars. In the country-side, some of the toughest battles were fought along the Marne river… Your guide will take you to important remembrance sites such as Belleau Wood or the Hill 204 Memorial, which is dedicated to the 10 US divisions that fought in the Chateau Thierry sector. They will be glad to share with you their knowledge about the Great War.