Champagne & Northern France - Discover France: Experience the Best of France - page 322

If You Like... Architecture

If you've been impressed by the architecture of Reims, then you won't want to miss these
architectural gems:

1 TROYES
( tourist office 03 25 73 36 88; www.tourisme-troyes.com ; rue Mignard;
10am-1pm & 2-6pm Mon-Sat, 10am-noon & 2-5pm Sun & holidays, closed Nov-early
Apr) This historic city contains some of France's best-preserved medieval build-
ings. The tiny ruelle des Chats (Alley of the Cats) has barely changed in four
centuries.

2 ARRAS
( tourist office 03 21 51 26 95; www.ot-arras.fr ; place des Héros) Arras' Flemish-
inspired architecture is plain to see on the twin market squares, place des Héros
and the Grand'Place. For a panoramic perspective, climb the Unesco-listed bell-
tower.

3 LILLE
( tourist office 08 91 56 20 04; www.lilletourism.com ; place Rihour) Flemish in-
fluences are everywhere in industrial Lille, but the city also boasts an attractive
old town dotted with art-deco buildings and a trio of art museums.

4 NANCY
( tourist office 03 83 35 22 41; www.ot-nancy.fr ; place Stanislas; 9am-7pm
Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm Sun) The former capital of the Dukes of Lorraine catapults
you into 18th-century splendour. The Unesco-listed place Stanislas was laid out
in the 1750s.

Tours
The musty caves (cellars) and dusty bottles of eight Reims-area Champagne
houses (known as maisons - literally, 'houses') can be visited on guided tours.

MUMM Champagne Cellar