Reims

Reims

Reims may be my favorite city in France.  Sure, the south of France was great, but they were big (and sometimes windy and/or cold!).  Just walking from the train station to Reims Cathedral – and what a sight that is! – gave me the feeling of openness without enormity.  Our first stop in this quaint city was Reims Cathedral, begun in 1211.   On the same site where the cathedral stands today, in 400 AD, Saint Remi crowned the first king of France, Clavis I, as depicted in the tympanum on the northern side of the church.

 The legend says that the church at the time was so crowded that no one could get the anointing oil to Saint Remi; after a quick prayer to God, a dove descended from Heaven and dropped a vial of holy oil into Saint Remi’s hands.

When we see a cathedral, our immediate assumption is that the building was built with stone and other trappings but there was no decoration besides that.  Well, we discovered that cathedrals were actually painted during their early years!  Wear and tear of weather, war, and time have removed most of this beautiful artistry, but some figures still bear a slight coat of the color, as seen here in one of the famous “Smiling Angels.”

 In fact, Reims celebrated the cathedral’s 800^th anniversary (2011) with a light show that put color back on the facades of the cathedral for a short time.   Here, take a couple of minutes to watch a clip from the illuminating experience:

If you’re famished for something that is fancy and filling but won’t break the bank, try Le Gaulois: 

Heading west from Reims Cathedral, you won’t have to walk more than ten minutes to find this place (factoring in weaving through various stores and shops).  On the day that I went with the Lynns, this place had a special deal for a “Plat du Joir” and a dessert for a little under 13 euros.  Take a look!

The first dish is pork in a mushroom gravy/sauce and (I think) scalloped potatoes with melted cheese.  The dessert was a rich and creamy crème brulee.

And if you want to see a piece of Roman architecture while you’re in Reims, be sure to stop by the Porte de Mars, an ancient Roman triumphal arch, dating from the 3^rd century AD.  This arch was the widest in the Roman world.

If you happen to be in France, make a point to visit Reims!

By: Marcus Bellamy