Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
fieldsightswithoutacarhaveseveraloptions:Rideahop-on,hop-offbustour;takeataxi;
or take a private tour. Or you could rent a car just for the day.
Frequenthigh-speedTGVtrainslinkParisandReimsin45minutes,andafewdirect
TGV trains link Paris and Verdun in 1.5 hours. Most trains between Reims and Verdun are
slow, thanks to required transfers.
Champagne's Cuisine Scene
Because Champagne is not often integrated into meals, cuisine in this region (otherwise
without a strong traditional wine) suffers from a lack of originality. Much like Paris,
Champagne borrows from the recipe books of other regions. Still, be on the lookout for
anything cooked in Champagne, and try the warm dandelion salad with bacon bits
(salade
de pissenlit). La potée champenoise
is a blood pudding made from rabbit. Ample rivers
make for flavorful trout
(truite)
dishes.
Jambon de Reims
, ham cooked in white wine
or Champagne and wrapped in a pastry shell or coated with breadcrumbs, is popular in
Reims, as is andouillette (tripe sausage). You may also find rooster cooked in the red wine
knownasBouzyRouge
(coqauvindeBouzy).
Briecheese,madeonChampagne'sborder,
is a good choice. Other local cheeses include Cendré de Champagne (similar to Brie but
the size of a large Camembert, with a thin, edible ash covering), Chaource, Soumaintrain,
and Langres. Fruit-flavored brandies are a common way to end an evening.
With its Roman gate, Gothic cathedral, Champagne
caves,
and vibrant pedestrian zone,
Reims feels both historic and youthful. And thanks to the TGV bullet train, it's less than
an hour's ride from Paris.
Reims (pronounced like “rance”) has a turbulent history: This is where 26 French
kings were crowned, where Champagne first bubbled, where WWI devastation met mi-
raculous reconstruction during the Art Deco age, and where the Germans officially sur-
rendered in 1945, bringing World War II to a close in Europe. The town's sights give you
an entertaining peek at the entire story.
Planning Your Time
You can see Reims' essential sights in an easy day, either as a day trip from Paris or as a
stop en route to or from Paris. Frequent TGV trains make the trip from Paris a breeze (if
using a railpass, book your TGV reservations as soon as possible). Take a morning train
from Paris and explore the cathedral and city center before lunch, then spend your after-
