PARIS BEST TOUR | REIMS CHAMPAGNE REGION

A city in the Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine region of France, lies 144 km (85 mi) east-northeast of Paris. The 2013 census recorded 182,592 inhabitants in the city of Reims proper , and 317,611 inhabitants in the metropolitan area .

Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire. Reims played a prominent ceremonial role in French monarchical history as the traditional site of the crowning of the kings of France. The Cathedral of Reims (damaged by the Germans during the First World War but restored since) housed the Holy Ampulla (Sainte Ampoule) containing the Saint Chrême (chrism), allegedly brought by a white dove (the Holy Spirit) at the baptism of Clovis in 496. It was used for the anointing, the most important part of the coronation of French kings.

Reims, along with Épernay and Ay, functions as one of the centres of champagne production. Many of the largest champagne-producing houses, known as les grandes marques, have their headquarters in Reims, and most open for tasting and tours. Champagne ages in the many caves and tunnels under Reims, which form a sort of maze below the city. Carved from chalk, some of these passages date back to Roman times.(wikipedia)