Episode 31 I Went to Reims – Is This France’s Next Travel Hotspot?
[Music] Welcome to France, France. We’re about 90 miles north and east of Paris. This city has a lot to offer. First of all, it’s known as the coronation city. Second, it’s called the unofficial champagne capital of the world. And thirdly, this is where the Germans signed the unconditional surrender to the Allies during World War II. Lots to cover in a short amount of time. Let’s get started. Walking around Ronz is a feast for the eyes as the building styles range from the medieval Romanesque to art deco. This is even more remarkable when you learn that 80% of the city was leveled during World War I and World War II was even worse. You can even see bullet holes in some of the buildings, a sad reminder of the war’s devastation. Apart from what I just told you, Ron also has the distinction of having an UNESCO World Heritage site and it’s basically the combination of three different places in town, all within walking distance of each other. First, there’s the cathedral. What’s here now is the third building on this site. The first one was built in 401, then another 400 years later, which also lasted 400 years until the present one. This one was first constructed in 1211. It’s larger than Paris’s famous Notre Dame Cathedral, but it was built in a mere 60 years. It has more than 2300 statues. One of the statues you should seek out is the smiling angel. It’s on the left side of the main portal. During World War I, the head fell off and the French used it as a symbol of French culture being destroyed by German barbarity. Someone collected all the broken pieces and it was reassembled and put back in its place. This is where the first king of France, Clovis, was baptized in 496. There’s even something that marks the spot. Clovis was the country’s first Christian king and he helped spread Christianity throughout the land. For 800 years, 33 kings were crowned in Rance and 25 of them in the cathedral. Right outside the cathedral, you’ll notice some serious excavations going on. What they’re finding are the foundations of the previous cathedrals built here and a Roman mega structure dating back to about 1,800 years ago, giving historians valuable insight into the Roman life of this region. The second of the three parts of the UNESCO designation, the pale dut. It was initially built in the 4th century as a home when the Romans were still occupying the city. But after a fire, it was rebuilt in the 13th century. These days, it’s a museum for the valuable treasures that were in the cathedral. Bad timing for us. It’s being renovated, so we can’t go inside. Still, it’s easy to add to your itinerary in Rance because it’s literally next door to the cathedral. Walk about 20 minutes and you’ll come upon the third and last part of the UNESCO site, the Benedicting Abbey of St. Remy. The abbey itself is now just ruins, but the abbey church is still very much standing and was built between 10:05 and 1170. Since we’re not in the center of town, it’s much less crowded here. So, for that reason, it’s a great place to check out. One place we missed out on is the Cryptoport. It points to the city’s early history that includes an occupation by the Romans. The Cryptoport is a network of corridors under the city that were used to store grain in the 3rd century. There are five registered ones in the world with this one arguably the most well preserved. It’s free to get in, but the hours of operation are limited and only open between May and September. As I told you at the start, Ron is where the Germans signed an unconditional surrender on May 7th, 1945. Walk 5 minutes from the train station to the museum de la Red or a museum of the surrender. During World War II, it was the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force, or in short, the headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, General Dwight Eisenhower. While the building is now mostly a high school these days, the museum part has preserved the map room where the signing took place. Plexiglass has kept the room pretty much as it was 80 years ago. Why then is Victory in Europe Day celebrated on May 8th and not May 7th? Because there was a second signing the next day. Why? Because the Soviets questioned the legitimacy of the first signing. They wanted a more formal one done in the heart of Nazi Germany power. That would be Berlin. If you want to check this place out, keep in mind it’s closed on Tuesdays. Now that we’ve immersed ourselves in the history of reams, or as the locals call it, Rance, let’s learn about something that’s specific to this region. Champagne making. The champagne industry here is huge. There are roughly 16,000 wine growers here. And this tour will take us to a handful and a bonus visit to the tomb of the champagne pioneer Dom Perinon. You have the map of the Champagne region. So I’ve picked you up in France. So we say R. We do not say rims. Just for you to know the whole process of the champagne making it start during the harvest. So around 150,000 people coming to our bus because we need to pick up the grapes only by hands. We want to select only the best grapes. It’s also very important because we want to produce a white champagne with red grape. So you’re able to do that because you are being very gentle with the grapes. You do not crush the skin so the color can stay inside the skin of your grape. What makes this region so special that it’s the only place that makes champagne ter it’s about the climate in champagne we need a cool to moderate climate to reach the nice balance between the sugar and the acidity inside the grapes is also about the heels that you have seen all around and you have a special sun exposure wind exposure but most importantly you have the subs soil you will find a lot of chalk and that’s what makes the difference quality between the W region or even countries. Even though it’s not harvest season, the guide shows us the ins and outs from the grapes they use to the different stages of the champagne making in between generous taste testings. This one is really fruity, toasty and nuts. And this one. Oh, thank you. My husband’s not on this tour and he just texted me asking if I was drunk. Drunk is the way my parents would say it. This is my fifth glass of champagne. So maybe I am. And since I’m a big fan of recycling, I just had to pose the question I always ask. What do you do with the skin? Do you use it for composting or you can do fertilizer in your vineyard? You can do vinegar, you can do mustards, and you can do cosmetics. Also, we have a brand called Kodali. They reuse the skin of grape because they’re full of antioxidants. This tour is so detailed that we almost feel like we’re in a mini champagne somalier course. You have the grave on the left of Don. Don was a monk for 47 years inside the monastery. Here we call him the spiritual father of champagne because he is the one who understood a few things about the process. It’s like how you put strawberries in a biscuit dipped in champagne. Okay, I’m a little too bougie for myself. Okay, first of all, I want to caveat this. There is no evidence that this is true, but wouldn’t it have been cool given the diverse history of this city that the Allied victory in World War II was toasted to with a bottle of champagne. Thanks for joining me on Mary Goes Around the World. Here’s my tip of the week for you. Probably no surprise. City pass. I didn’t get it mostly because I was kind of running around and probably spending half the time doing a champagne tour. But maybe you should look at it. So basically what I would recommend is you look at the list of the museums and activities that you can do and see if it makes sense monetarily. That’s my tip of the week for you.
On a day trip out of Paris, exploring the surprising and charming city of Reims, France. It’s a place where kings were crowned, wars ended, and champagne was born. In this travel vlog, I explore the rich layers of history, architecture, and bubbly brilliance that make Reims unforgettable. 🏰🍾🇫🇷
▶️ Highlights from this episode:
🕍 The breathtaking Reims Cathedral — larger than Notre Dame and home to 2,300+ statues, including the iconic Smiling Angel
📜 The Palais du Tau – former royal residence and now a museum of sacred treasures
🏛️ Abbey of Saint-Remi – peaceful and Romanesque, part of Reims’ UNESCO World Heritage designation
🕊️ Musée de la Reddition – where Germany surrendered to the Allies in WWII
🥂 A behind-the-scenes champagne tour: from vineyard terroir and grape selection to tasting and sustainability
🧑🏫 Fascinating facts from local experts on why Reims is the official home of champagne
Whether you’re a history lover, champagne connoisseur, or curious traveler, this video has something for you. Get ready to discover one of France’s most underrated gems.
💡 Travel tip of the week: Should you get the Reims City Pass? I share what I learned.
📍 Reims Travel Guide | Champagne Region | Hidden Gems of France
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00:00 Introduction
00:37 War damage
00:51 UNESCO World Heritage Site
01:05 Cathedral
01:31 Smiling Angel
01:51 Clovis baptism – first Christian king in France
02:06 list of coronations
02:13 excavations
02:31 Palais du Tau
03:01 Benedictine Abbey
03:23 Crytoportique
03:50 WWII Surrender + Museum
04:49 Champagne Tour
07:24 Dom Perignon Grave
07:56 Closing
08:17 Tip of the Week
Uplifting Acoustic Tune with a Bright, Positive Vibe by Nancy_Sinclair — https://freesound.org/s/751877/ — License: Attribution 4.0.
Keystone View Company, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons