Reims Tourism
Cité des Sacres et du Champagne Marne (51)
Champagne - Ardenne,
2, rue Guillaume de Machault,
51100 REIMS
Phone : 03 26 77 45 00
Fax : 03 26 77 45 19
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Reims (English traditionally Rheims) is a city of northern France, 144 km (89 miles) east-northeast of Paris.
Its history can be traced back to the period of the Roman Empire.
Reims played a very important role in French history, as it was the place where the kings of France were crowned.
Thus, the Cathedral of Reims, damaged by the Germans during the First World War but restored since, played the same role in France as Westminster Abbey did in England.
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It was there that was kept the Holy Ampulla ("Sainte Ampoule") containing the Saint Chrême (chrism), which allegedly was brought by a white dove (the Holy Spirit) at the baptism of Clovis in 496, and was used for the anointing, the most important part of the coronation of French kings.
Place du Parvis and statue of Joan of Arc, in Reims
Reims is often considered the capital of Champagne, an old province of France made world-famous by its Champagne sparkling wine, although in reality it is only the largest city of Champagne, but not its capital, being only a sous-préfecture of the Marne département.
Local Attractions - Places to Visit
History
Before the Roman conquest Reims, as Durocortorum, was capital of the Remi, from whose name that of the town was subsequently derived. More>>
Geography
Reims is situated in a plain on the right bank of the Vesle River, a tributary of the Aisne River, and on the canal which connects the Aisne with the Marne River. South and west rise the "Montagne de Reims" and vine-clad hills.
Administration
Reims is a sous-préfecture of the Marne département, in the Champagne-Ardenne administrative région.
Population
At the 1999 census, there were 187,206 inhabitants (Rémois) in the city proper (commune) of Reims, while there were 291,735 inhabitants in the whole metropolitan area.
Wine
Reims, along with Épernay and Ay, is one of the centers of Champagne production. Many of the largest Champagne producing houses, known as les grandes marques, have their headquarters in Reims, and most are open for tasting and tours by appointment.
Champagne is aged in the many caves and tunnels under Reims. Carved from chalk, some of these passages were dug by the Romans.
Grand Prix
Between 1925 and 1969, Reims hosted the Grand Prix de la Marne automobile race at a circuit called Reims-Gueux. The French Grand Prix was held here 14 times, between 1938 and 1966. More>>
Famous People
Reims was the birthplace of:
- Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1619-1683), who served as the French minister of finance, for 22 years, under King Louis XIV
- Jean-Baptiste de la Salle (1651-1719), Catholic saint, teacher and educational reformer
- Nicolas de Grigny (1672-1703), organist and composer
- Jean-Baptiste Drouet, Count d'Erlon (1765-1844), marshal of France and a soldier in Napoleon's army
- Nicolas Eugène Géruzez (1799-1865), critic
- Adolphe d'Archiac (1802-1868), geologist and paleontologist
- Paul Fort (1872-1960), poet
- Henri Marteau (1874-1934), violinist and composer
- Maurice Halbwachs (1877-1945), philosopher and sociologist
- Roger Caillois (1913-1978), intellectual
- Jean Baudrillard (born 1929), is a cultural theorist and philosopher
- Patrick Poivre d'Arvor (born 1947), TV journalist and writer
- Robert Pirès (born 1973), World Cup winner, current footballer for Villarreal CF
Credits
: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the
Wikipedia article
"Reims".
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