Reims Cathedral
The coronation church of French kings, shelled to a shell in 1914 and rebuilt over four decades.
Updated 21 October 2026
AI illustration
UNESCO World Heritage
Notre-Dame de Reims was where French kings were crowned, about thirty of them from the twelfth century to 1825, including Charles VII in 1429 with Joan of Arc present. The west front carries a huge population of sculpture, among it the Smiling Angel, which became famous after German shelling in September 1914 set the roof timbers alight and the statue's head fell and broke; the fire destroyed the roof and melted lead ran through the building. Restoration took until 1938 and continued after the second war. Marc Chagall designed three windows for the axial chapel in 1974, deep blue against the pale stone.
History
Early in the 5th century Bishop Nicasius moved the cathedral to this site, once Roman baths built by Constantine, and around 496 Saint Remigius baptised Clovis, king of the Franks, here - the event behind the long tradition of royal coronations at Reims. Louis the Pious was crowned here by Pope Stephen IV in 816, after which Archbishop Ebbo and the architect Rumaud began a far larger church in about 818, dedicated by Archbishop Hincmar on 18 October 862; the present Gothic cathedral was begun in the 13th century and finished in the 14th, and it became a World Heritage Site in 1991 (Wikipedia, Reims Cathedral).
What you'll find
- The Smiling Angel - the sculpture broken in the 1914 shelling and remade.
- The west front - a facade crowded with medieval statuary.
- The Chagall windows - deep blue glass in the axial chapel from 1974.
- The Palais du Tau - the archbishop's palace with coronation treasures.
When to go
April to October; tower climbs run in season only and are timed. Summer evenings bring a light projection onto the facade recreating medieval polychrome. The cathedral itself is free year-round.
Things to know
Restoration scaffolding is often somewhere on the building. Tower visits are limited, ticketed and involve many steps. Much of the exterior sculpture is replacement, the originals being in the Palais du Tau.
Nearby
The Champagne cellars are in the city; the Faux de Verzy lie southeast.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q206823, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Reims Cathedral
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A scarf or shawl - To cover the head or shoulders on entry; women especially at mosques. Find on Amazon
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