Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WhileWorldWarIIleftthecityunscathed,WorldWarIdevastatedReims.Itwasthe
biggest city on France's Western Front, and it was hammered. Sixty-five percent of Reims
was destroyed by shelling, and in 1918 only 70 buildings remained undamaged. The area
around you was entirely rebuilt in the 1920s. If it looks eclectic, that's because the mayor
at the time said to build any way you like—just build. Do a little spin-tour to survey the
facades.
All around you'll see the stylized features—geometric reliefs, motifs in ironwork,
roundedcorners,andsimple concrete elegance—of
Art Deco
.Theonlyhintsthat thiswas
once a medieval town are the narrow lots that struggle to accommodate today's buildings.
