Reims' famed Cathédrale Notre Dame turned 800 in 2011, and its impressive history mandates a visit if you are passing through the area. Every French king from Louis the Pious in 815 to Charles X in 1825 was crowned in Notre Dame. Perhaps the building's historical highpoint was the 1429 coronation of Charles VII, with Joan of Arc attending. Unfortunately, the physical structure of the cathedral was badly damaged during World War I, and many of its features are recent restorations. Still, the 13th century cathedral is considered among Europe's most noteworthy Gothic structures and the building was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991.
Notre Dame rises in the heart of Reims, and from the central city you can see its towers soaring some 260 feet above the surrounding rooftops. The nave's vaulted ceiling itself is 125 feet high. The cathedral is famous for its 2,303 statues as well as for its remarkable luminosity. The huge structure is lit up by its myriad delicate rose windows, most particularly the 12-petaled great rose window on the western facade. Other stained-glass windows were designed by Chagall. To approach the cathedral from its most impressive side, walk along rue Libergier from the west. Notre Dame is open to visitors every day between 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. You can rent audio guides from the tourist office, just north of the cathedral.
The Basilique St-Rémi is the oldest cathedral in Reims, constructed in 1007 as a Benedictine abbey about a mile southeast of Notre Dame. Today this excellent example of medieval French masonry houses a museum, although many of the features of the church remain. They include Romanesque elements from the 11th century, like the impressive nave, and Gothic features from the 12th century, like the choir and tiny clerestory windows. The museum contains artifacts relating to the history of Reims and regional archeology. St. Remi, the cathedral's namesake, was the Bishop Remigius who baptized Clovis and his Frankish warriors in 498.
Stop by the Basilique any day between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. for a free visit. If you are in Reims on a Saturday in July, August or September, you can enjoy the evening music and light shows. The museum area is only open afternoons from 2 p.m., and a small fee is charged. Be sure to visit the soaring Grand Staircase as well as the magnificent choir area with its unique pointed arches. The structure also contains the tomb of St. Rémi with its intricate carvings of Renaissance figures.
