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Reims (pronounced Rahns), an ancient
Roman city, was important at the time Caesar conquered Gaul. French
kings came here to be crowned, and it's said that the French nation was
born here in A.D. 498. Joan of Arc escorted Charles VII here in 1429,
kissing the silly man's feet. But don't let this ancient background
mislead you: As you approach Reims, you'll pass through prefabricated
suburbs that look like apartment house blocks in Eastern Europe. There
are gems in Reims, including the cathedral, of course, but you must seek
them out.
Most visitors come to Reims because it's the center of a wine-growing
district whose bubbly is present at celebrations all over the world. The
city today, with a population of 185,000, is filled with swank
restaurants, ritzy champagne houses, large squares, and long, tree-lined
avenues. The champagne bottled here is the lightest and subtlest in
flavor of the world's wines. Make an effort to linger, exploring the
vineyards and wine cellars, the Gothic monuments, and the battlefields. |
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