How to Visit Reims Cathedral of Notre Dame

Exploring the architectural and historical heritage is one of the best plans in Reims. This small city has several buildings of great importance for the history of France and even Europe, which makes it a place that deserves to be known during a visit to the Champagne wine region.

Below, I explain everything you need to know before visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral in Reims.

The first thing you need to know about the access to the Notre Dame cathedral is that it is located in the center of the city, in a point that is easy to identify because it is the tallest building in the whole city. It is on Cardinal Luçon Street and, although it has different doors, the main entrance is on the front facade, in the Place du Parvis. Entering is free and you even have the possibility of touring it through a private tour. A very interesting option to delve into its architecture and history.

It is definitely the most important tourist attraction in Reims and, therefore, can not miss within the itinerary of a three-day visit to Reims, nor a two-day visit to Reims and its surroundings. Moreover, it will be a must if you book a private tour of Reims.

If you book a private tour of Reims you will not regret it, especially if your stay in Reims will be short, as a guide will help you learn about all the important details as well as the most impressive buildings of the city.

The opening hours of the Cathedral of Reims are very extensive. It opens every day of the week from 7:30 am and closes at 7:30 pm on weekdays. On Sundays and holidays, it closes at 7:15 pm. However, access ends 15 minutes before closing time.

If you want to visit the towers and the bell tower you will have to contact the administration of the Palais de Tau, as the schedule is adjusted on request. It must be made 15 days in advance and the number of people attending must be indicated. For opening, there must be a minimum of 10 people.

The schedules on festive dates change depending on the masses. Visiting the Cathedral is one of the best things to do in Reims during Christmas, because guided tours are organized without the need for prior reservation and there are often special masses.

If you want to take a guided tour of the Cathedral of Notre Dame there are two possible ways. One is to contact the Palais du Tau to organize a tour that includes the possibility to go up to the two towers and to see the bell tower. For this, there must be a minimum number of participants and the reservation must be made up to 15 days in advance.

The other alternative is to book a private tour of the main attractions of the city of Reims, including the Cathedral, the Tau Palace and the Basilica of Saint Remi. These three sites have been declared World Heritage Sites. And it has a great historical importance, since the palace was the residence where the royal family prepared before the coronations and the Cathedral was the place where the official act of coronation of the next French king took place.

In any case, opting for a guided tour is recommended only if you already had the opportunity to participate in one of the best excursions from Reims. Reims stands out for its proximity to the Champagne region's vineyards, known for their quality.

The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Reims can be entered by any history lover or those who wish to see the art inside regardless of religion, age or place of origin. There are no limitations regardless of whether there are special events for commemorative dates for Catholicism such as Easter or Christmas.

In fact, on these special dates it is common that the visit is encouraged, even for those who do not consider themselves as faithful Catholics, because the truth is that the place is quite important for the historical and architectural identity of Reims and within the tourism of the French northeast.

The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Reims is best reached on foot if it is your first time in the city. Being such a small city, you can get there from the train station in less than five minutes. In fact, walking the center of Reims is something you can do in less than four or five hours.

Anyway, the Tram has a station called Opera-Cathedrale that can help you to go to and from this church in case you are staying in another neighborhood of the city. This is practical knowing that this means of transportation is the closest thing to a mass transit system like the metro in Reims.

You should also know that it is not recommended to arrive by private car, as it is not comfortable, although the Parking CPA Cathedrale allows you to park your car for a couple of euros in a comfortable and safe place. It is less than 300 meters from the Cathedral square, on Rue des Capuchins, at the height that goes between Rue Libergier and Rue Henri Hadart.

There are really no limitations on children of all ages entering the Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral. However, you should keep in mind that it may not be the most entertaining activity for young children. Therefore, it is quite convenient to know that in front of the Cathedral there is a square with other nearby monuments that you can see from outside while you are with the little ones.

My advice is to go during the early morning or late afternoon in case you go with children because there will be fewer visitors and it will be more comfortable.

Another way to make the tour of a Cathedral more bearable traveling with small children is participating in a guided excursion such as the private tour of Reims.

Without a doubt, the Cathedral of Reims is a marvel of French Gothic architecture and a must-see if you book a private tour of Reims. Here's what not to miss:

• Its exterior, which has three different porticoes, is loaded with statues and statuettes very characteristic of European cathedrals. In fact, only Chartres Cathedral has the most sculpted figures in France. The main portico is one of the main attractions you should pay attention to. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and has different sculptures of Catholic characters. The angel with the smile is one of the most characteristic ones.
• Another aspect of the façade are the towers, which are 86 meters high and have other scenes sculpted into their structure.
• The interior is also a place you should pay close attention to and is characterized by having a fairly unified architectural style, as the construction did not last more than two centuries and mainly took place during one of them, the 13th century. Which was not something common in the construction of these magnificent churches.
• The surroundings of the Cathedral are also something you should enjoy, as the front façade is not the only impressive thing about it. In fact, some say that its side walls are the most impressive aspect of the structure.

How much time you have to invest to tour the Reims Cathedral is something that depends on how interested you are in observing the art on display inside and its complex structure. Most people think that half an hour is more than enough even if you look at it in detail. That said, there are those who want to feel the peace of this place for spiritual or religious interests and, therefore, believe that they have to spend at least an hour inside.

The truth is that my recommendation is that you book a private tour of Reims that includes it in your visit, as an expert guide will explain the importance of each of the things you are seeing.

As you have seen, visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the best things to do in Reims. There are some recommendations that I can make for you to enjoy your visit to the fullest no matter if you are traveling with children, on a planned excursion or on your own. Tips that you should follow if you want to enjoy this city to the fullest:

• Go calmly: The first thing I can tell you is to go calmly, because it is open 12 hours a day and there is no limitation in terms of free entry by schedules. So you don't need to hurry. In fact, if anything characterizes tourism in Reims is that it is much quieter and more moderate than in other cities with a larger number of visitors.
• Take the opportunity to get to know the surroundings: As it is the most important building in the city, the surrounding area is full of important institutions such as the Palace of Justice, the Opera of Reims, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Palace of Tau or the Place Royale with its cafes and institutional buildings. In addition, the neighborhood surrounding the Cathedral is the most visited area of the city and, therefore, the commercial and gastronomic offer is quite abundant.
• Avoid coinciding with a mass: If you want to be able to talk calmly and walk without pressure throughout the length and breadth of the Cathedral, it is preferable that your visit does not coincide with a mass. The reality is that these religious acts do not follow a specific schedule throughout the year and following the pattern is very complex. So in the event that you find yourself at a mass, it is preferable that you go to lunch or visit the neighboring palace and then return to do your tour on your own terms.
• Book a guided tour: Whenever you have the opportunity, book a private tour of Reims.