Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year therefore I was delighted to have the opportunity to visit Reims in early December with my colleague Stephanie. The Reims tourist board had invited Stephanie and I to join them on two day tour of Reims to see the sights of this small but perfectly formed city.

On arrival at the Best Western de la Paix we were greeted by our contact at the Reims Tourist Board and then introduced to all the other members of our party. Stephanie and I then checked into our hotel rooms which were fabulous! The Best Western de la Paix is an extremely well presented and comfortable 3 star hotel. Personally I feel that the hotel is worthy of at least a 3 star superior category if not 4 stars. The hotel rooms are very spacious with large bay windows with views overlooking the town. The beds are large, very comfortable and the rooms have well equipped bathrooms with a separate bath tub and shower.

After checking into our bedrooms we were welcomed by the hotel staff in the bar area for coffee and croissants with the rest of our group. It was then that we realised that we were the only English people in the group except for one other lady. The hotel staff were very accommodating and helpfully gave us information about the hotel in English and in French.

Our trip started with a visit to the Tau Palace and Cathedral which are about a ten minute coach ride (or a short walk) from the hotel. Upon arrival at the Palace both Stephanie and I were taken aback at how beautiful the Palace and Cathedral both are. It was a cold but lovely sunny day in Reims and the Palace really stood out against the beautiful blue sky in the background.

As we were visiting the city just before Christmas a “Cribs exhibition” was on display inside the Tau Palace, which was a collection of nativity scenes from around the world. It was interesting to see the differences between the model interpretations of the birth of Christ from each country. We then ventured up to the top floor of the Palace which houses the Musée de l’Œuvre, displaying statuary and tapestries from the Cathedral, together with reliquaries and other objects associated with the coronation of the French Kings.

From the Tau Palace it was a short hop to Reims Cathedral which is next door. The Cathedral is absolutely stunning and some parts of the building date back to 1207. The Cathedral suffered fire damage on 19 September 1914 and was not repaired until after the Second World War. There are still visible signs of the fire damage to the Cathedral today.

After a hearty lunch (complete with a glass or two of champagne) we were transferred by coach to the Chateau les Crayeres which is about a ten minute drive outside of the centre of Reims. The Chateau was once a family home which has been converted into a luxury hotel. The hotel has a fabulous restaurant with exceptional food and service which overlooks the hotel’s immaculate grounds. The Chateau is absolutely beautiful and has a very homely feel. I could imagine retreating to this hotel for a cosy weekend to get away from it all in the French countryside!

In the evening we returned to the centre of Reims to explore the Christmas Village. The village has a massive 125 stalls and is by far the best Christmas Market I have ever seen. The stalls are divided into sections and spread out around the town which seems to prevent masses of shoppers congregating in one area. The sights and smells of the Christmas village were magical and we really enjoyed looking at all the different crafts and yummy things to eat!

After an insightful but exhausting day in Reims (we had a VERY early start!) we returned to our hotel for a rest and freshen up before heading out to the Michelin starred restaurant Auberge Le Grand Cerf for dinner.
The restaurant is beautifully decorated and has a cosy yet stately home feel to it. We were made to feel very welcome with champagne and canapés when the President of the Tourist Board arrived and you certainly get the impression that the people of Reims are very proud of their city and indeed their champagne! Our meal was delicious, the service was impeccable and a very enjoyable evening was had by all.

We returned to our hotel around midnight that evening feeling tired but looking forward to our second exciting day in Reims!

Read about the 2nd day of Hayley’s and Stephanie’s trip to Reims

Tags: Champagne, Food and Drink, France, Reims | Posted in: France, Reims | Author: Hayley