Friday, September 13, 2024 – Day trip to Reims.

Travel Blog 3 Minutes
The Notre Dame Cathedral at Reims.

I got up early this morning because I had to catch a Metro to the train station where I was taking the 8:30 high speed train to Reims. I got to the station by 8:00 and was on the train by 8:15. I spent 15 minutes trying to find my assigned seat. I finally gave up and decided to stand in the vestibule of the train between cars until the train departed and then I found an empty seat and occupied it.

Reims is a 45 minute smooth as silk train trip from Paris. Amtrak really is a poor excuse for passenger rail service when compared to European trains.

The first thing I encountered when I got off the train in Reims is the Arch of Mars.

This arch is the largest preserved Roman arch in France. This arch was part of the north gate in the Roman wall surrounding ancient Reims.

Then it was on to the Cathedral. I would love to visit Notre Dame in Paris but they almost burned it down a number of years ago while they were in the middle of a renovation. They are saying that the rebuild will be complete and Notre Dame will reopen at the end of 2024. Don’t count on it. My guess is that it will be reopened at the end of 2025.

A very good friend of mine, Patrick Larm, suggested that the Cathedral at Reims is pretty spectacular and might prove to be an acceptable substitute for Notre Dame in Paris. Good suggestion Patrick.

The facade of the Cathedral is falling apart but they are working on it. Reims was on the frontline of many battles during World War I and was almost destroyed by fire and bombs. It took over 20 years to repair the most visible damage to the facade and it has taken over 100 years to attempt to restore the facade to its prewar condition.

The construction of the cathedral was commenced in 1211 and finished in about 1285. Twenty-five French kings have been crowned in this cathedral.

The stained glass windows in this cathedral were stunning.

Huge window above the front door of the cathedral.
Intricate some carvings around a pulpit.
Stained glass windows designed by Chagall to replace windows damaged during World War II.
The altar.
A side wall of the cathedral.
One of the side chapels.

After I spent two hours thoroughly examine the interior and exterior of the cathedral it was time to walk to my 1:30 champagne tour at Veuve Clicquot. Along the way I got a takeout lunch from a bakery.

A chicken sandwich and a chocolate chip cookie and a Coke. Perfect!
After a long uphill hike I arrived at the champagne house where I had scheduled my tour.
This was in the room where the tour group waited for our tour guide to arrive. I can guarantee that the King Pin bowling alley did not have a Veuve Clicquot foosball tables when I played there 50 years ago.
This is Nadine, our tour guide.
The tour took place in the limestone caves and tunnels where they store the champagne. This champagne house has 15 miles of tunnels and 476 rooms to store its champagne.
During World War I the local population lived in these tunnels for four years to escape the constant shelling. This is a Red Cross which denotes the location of a hospital or aid station for wounded solders.
This is a carving of Bacchus, the god of wine.
This is Madam Clicquot. In 1805 her husband died and she inherited his small winery. She was advised to sell the winery but decided to operate it herself. A woman running a business in France at that time was unheard of. Madam Clicquot quickly became a leading producer of high quality champagnes and innovated and developed the first rose champagne.
Champagne tasting at the end of the tour. I highly recommend this champagne house and the tour if you are ever in Reims.

After a quick train ride back to Paris it was time for dinner.

McDonald’s?
Chipotle?
I was in the mood for pasta so I went back to my old standby.
A Perroni grande.
And penne bolognese.
When I got back to my hotel this notice was on the elevator door. And I am on the fifth floor. 😱 Climbing up five flights of stairs is not my idea of a perfect way to end a day trip to Reims.

That’s it from Paris. I hope you are having a wonderful day wherever you are.

Unknown's avatar

Published by abeandmarkonthecamino

I've been retired from the Union Pacific Railroad since 2017. I've been planning to walk the Camino for about 6 months and can't wait to get started.

Published

One thought on “Friday, September 13, 2024 – Day trip to Reims.”

  1. what’s nice, is I will never travel to France, and your photos and daily travel blog, allows me to see France through the eyes of a veteran world travler

    Thanks For sharing your travels with us. 😁👍

    Bill Warburton

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment