REIMS FAQ`S

What airports service the Reims, France area?

Paris-Roissy International Airport www.parisaeroport.fr: Reims is located 30 minutes (by TGV train) from the Paris Roissy international airport. Several companies offer connections to this airport.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport: There is a direct TGV link from this airport to Champagne - The Main Reims-Paris TGV also connects with Charlons-en-Champagne, Vitry-le-Francois, Charleville-Mezieres, Rethel and Sedan.

Reims-Champagne Airport: Light business and tourist aircraft.

How do I get from Paris to Reims by train?

TGV trains to Reims leave from Gare de l`est in Paris several times per day. The journey takes around 45 - 50 minutes and costs around €34 - €59 one-way. There are 8 - 10 direct trains per day from Strasbourg into the Champagne Ardennes TGV station, 5 miles outside of town, with connections to the center. The journey takes around 2 hours and costs around €55 - €75 one-way. For more information visit: www.voyages-snfc.com.

How do I get from the train station to my hotel?

There are two stations serving Reims.

The main TGV Station is Champagne-Ardennes TGV Station, which is 5 miles outside of Reims. The station is connected to the tramway.

Central Reims Station is on place de la Gare, about a 10-minute walk from the city center. There are trams running north-south through Reims via the station. The train station is also served by Bus Lines 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9. In addition, taxi ranks can be found outside the station.

How do I get Reims by car?

Reims is located at the crossroads of the A4-E50 (Paris - Strasbourg) and A26-E17 (Calais - Troyes - Dijon) motorways. The city has 6 motorway exits.

How do I get around by taxi?

Taxis are reasonable (about €2 a mile) but you can`t hail them and they have to be booked in advance.

- Taxis de Champagne, Tel. +33 (0) 3 26 3619 88

- AGC Taxi Reims, Tel. +33 (0) 7 64 08 82 81 or +33 (0) 3 26 48 92 45

Is Reims a walking city?

The center of the city is fairly compact and easy to get around on foot with many streets for pedestrian only, mainly in the shopping areas. However, Reims also has a large public transportation system available.

I will have a car in Reims, where can I park?

When you get there, you’ll find more than 4,500 parking spots divided into 3 zones (red, orange and green), with metered parking. The red and orange zones cost about €1.50/hour (limited to 2 hours). The green zone is about €1.00/hour (limited to 5 hours).

Additionally, 19 paid parking lots are available. You can also park for free at Parc des Expositions (located 15 minutes by bus from the city center).

What are the local transportation options available in Reims?

It is really easy to get around in the city of Reims, especially due to its buses and trams that connect the city to its close suburbs.

Prices vary according to the duration of your trip. For 1 hour, expect to pay about €1.50, €3.70 for a day (24 hours), €6.50 for 2 days (48 hours), and €7.50 for 3 days (72 hours). The ticket is activated after the first use and your trips are unlimited for the duration of your ticket.

Tram: There are two tram lines in the city. They share a similar route but the B line links the city center and train station with Gare de Champagne-Ardenne TGV, on the Paris-Strasbourg TGV Est Européen line. Trams on this line can be very infrequent. If you`re looking to catch a train at Champagne-Ardennes, it`s best to book from Reims Central instead of relying on the tram.

Bus: Two circular bus lines, the clockwise Citadine 1 and the anti-clockwise Citadine 2 (single ticket around €1.60, all-day ticket journey about €4) serve most of the major sights of Reims. Most Citura (www.citura.fr) lines begin their last runs at about 9:50 pm; five night lines operate until 12:15 am.

How do I get around by bike?

Manu Loca Vélo Central choice for renting bicycles (including children`s models). Call ahead to arrange delivery to your accommodation.

Champagne by bike contains a network of almost 300 miles of green trails through the region that take cyclists away from the hazards of the roads.

Is Reims a dangerous city?

Reims is a safe place to visit with little crime. Having said this, there are certain precautions that should be taken in order to ensure a smooth trip through the Champagne region of France. Like always, common sense is the most important tool to be used in staying safe.

Although street crimes, burglaries, and petty thefts are not major concerns in Reims, they occasionally happen. However, most of these situations can be avoided using a few simple rules. Avoid carrying around large amounts of money or looking extremely flashy. Drawing un-needed attention is never a good idea. Lock all car doors and roll up windows when leaving valuables behind in a car. Keep a close eye on valuables in crowded, public areas, as these are the places where pickpockets generally operate.

Avoid walking alone at night, this is a general recommendation for any unfamiliar area, but should be followed in Reims as well.

Can I pay/tip in US dollars?

The currency used in Reims is the euro (€), US dollars are not accepted. You can get euros in different banks opened from Monday to Saturday and automatic cash points opened 24 hours a day.

We recommend that you exchange a small amount of cash prior to your trip, enough for a cab ride or basic spending on arrival. It is also useful to remind your bank and credit card company that you will be travelling to make sure your cards will work while in France. We recommend you record all your credit card numbers, as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or stolen.

Under the euro system, there are seven notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. Notes are the same for all countries. There are eight coins: 1 and 2 euros, plus 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents.

Reims, like elsewhere in France, a service charge is always included in the bill. If you are particularly pleased with the service, you may certainly leave a few extra euros on the table. But this additional tip is neither expected nor necessary.

For more information about tipping visit: Tipping in France

What is the weather like?

Average temperatures in Reims are seasonally temperate making Reims a year round destination. There are four seasons in Reims: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. The summers are hot, the fall is beautiful, winter is charming (and somewhat cold), and spring brings blooming flowers and the beginning of the new wine season.

Late spring and summer see warm temperatures in Reims; June through August regularly sees temperatures in the 80s F. This makes it the ideal season for strolling through the city center and for festivals.

What are the events that take place in the city?

All throughout the year, Reims welcomes many various and lively gatherings. Here are a few must-see events throughout the city:

Fete de la Musique takes place in many cities in France and Reims is definitely one to celebrate. This celebration of all types of music happens on summer solstice day, June 21. Every type of music is to be found, concerts and street performers alike!

Bastille Day (Independence Day on July 14th) is another great time to visit Reims. There is a grand fireworks display on July 13th followed by a very active nightlife, it is one of the most festive days of the year to visit.

September: Elektricity is an electronic music festival that takes place at the Cartonnerie and in other places in Reims. Also in September, European Heritage Days, another great event that will make you discover the most beautiful monuments and historical sites in Reims.

October: Come take part in the marathon ‘Reims à toutes jambs!` where more than 16,000 runners meet every year for a marathon that brings out the best performances in France.

November: The Independent Wine and Wine-growers Show will welcome you to the Parc des Expositions in Reims. During three days, you can meet wine producers that will tell you about their story, their wine, and their profession.

Christmas in Reims: Between November and December, Reims and the region prepare for the festive Christmas season, and also offer many original cultural events like the Path of Nativities, the Christmas Village, artisanal markets, musical shows, and the opening of Santa`s house.

Summer in Reims: Joan of Arc`s Celebrations, or the `Fêtes Johanniques` (Time period: end of May - beginning of June). This gathering celebrates the triumphant arrival of Joan of Arc for the crowning of the king, Charles VII. During two days, around 200 artists and 140 artisans come to show off their talents, their skills, and their love for French history through festive events and medieval shows.

The Flâneries musicales de Reims (Time period: mid-June- mid-July): A month long music festival offering free concerts with classical and jazz music within prestigious sites like the Abbey of Saint-Remi or certain parks in the city.

I don`t speak French. Will many people speak English?

French is the official language spoken in Reims. Hotels, tourist attractions and restaurants in popular areas generally have staff that speaks some English. On the street, many people (especially young people) speak at least basic English, but they will appreciate a little effort in French. If you decide to do some travelling into the surrounding, more rural areas, or happen upon a restaurant off the beaten track then it`s a good idea to brush up on your French! We suggest you get a good English-French guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

What is the food like?

Reims is well known for its upscale restaurants and charming cafes of international standard.

The Champagne region of France is well known for its famous drink, the Champagne. Many visit this region to sample the drink as well as try out its regional cuisines especially the different fish restaurants. Many of the local dishes can be paired with a champagne, giving a unique match. Here are some of the food specialties of the area:

Reims Ham - The Champagne capital`s famous ham is a must-try specialty. Nutmeg, parsley and shallots are added to the ham and shoulder of pork, which is then cooked in stock before being seasoned and coated in yellow breadcrumbs. You can find it sold either in a large rectangular block or small individual cylinders. Enjoy it with salad and dauphinoise or simply in small cubes as an aperitif as the locals do. The Champenois chefs use it in numerous recipes so you`ll find it on menus everywhere.

Reims Mustard - Although the grains for this mustard are no longer cultivated in France, producers have recently collaborated to replant them around Dijon. It`s only the Maison Charbonneaux-Brabant that has kept the Reims mustard tradition alive, offering a range of 12 recipes all with a reputation for quality and excellence. The original recipe is smooth and pale yellow and owes its particular flavor to the vinegar content and addition of spices.

Cheese - Cheese Champagne has a couple of very good cheeses worth trying on your visit. Chaource is a soft cows-milk cheese with a creamy, slightly crumbly texture and encased in a white rind. It is matured for two to three months but many people like to eat young Chaource, when the rind is hardly formed. Chaource is the ideal cheese to pair with champagne as well as delicate white wines such as Chablis. Langres is also made from cows` milk and has held AOC status since 1919. It`s similar to but milder than Epoisses, slightly salty with a strong aroma. After five weeks of maturation, it`s typically consumed between May and August but also tastes excellent from March through to December. Try it with the local red wine Muid Montsaugeonna is or a Vin de Coiffy.

Truffles Champagne - Truffles are a prized natural delicacy from the forest floors in Marne, earlier in the season than in the Périgord. Originally considered inferior to their western cousins, the truffles from Champagne are now considered of equal quality and are best used in their raw state to preserve their delicate hazelnut flavor.

Pink biscuits Les biscuits roses de Reims, light, crunchy and vanilla-flavored, are some of the oldest French biscuits - local residents are fond of dipping them into a glass of champagne, since they don`t break when moistened. The recipe for this tasty treat dates back to the 17th century, when a Champenois baker wanted to take advantage of the heat of the bread oven in between batches.

Chocolates (Bouchons de Champagne) - These heavenly dark chocolates, filled with Marc de Champagne liqueur and molded in the shape of champagne corks, have been made in the region since the 1950s. Their origin is somewhat mysterious, generally attributed to Guy Jubin, former owner of artisan chocolatier La Petite Friande in Reims. They make excellent souvenirs of the region: find them in local boulangeries where they`re either made on site or provided by famous label Chocogil.

What is the nightlife like?

Reims has the most vibrant nightlife in the region. This is a university town which brings in a very happening nightlife. The city center is full of lively bars, beer pubs and dance nightclubs.

The major walkway for bar action is at Douet d`Erlon, which is a beautiful pedestrian thoroughfare with an often pictured, gorgeous fountain and large golden-topped monument, La Fontaine Sube. The walkway is a good half mile long.

Cabaret shows take place at Le Vegas on rue Lessage. It is open all year round.

If you are in need of ideas of where to go in the evening, do not be afraid to ask a local. The younger people you will see around the city will most likely speak English and be happy to give you suggestions.

What are the best areas for shopping?

Reims is known as a `bourgeois` city and therefore, you can definitely expect some high quality shopping here. Among the major French department stores, there are also great boutiques and of course the Champagne houses. Leaving Champagne with bottles of the bubbly is the goal of many tourists who have come to Reims.

Galleries Lafayette is one of the best department stores in the world. Although it is best known for its Parisian location, the Reims store has a great offering of French style and goods as well. Galleries Lafayette and most other great boutiques are located near the Cathedral Notre Dame de Reims.

For a taste of the local culture and goods, check out the city market held on Wednesdays and Saturdays near the Porte de Mars. The market runs from early morning, around 7 am until around 1 pm.

As for Champagne, this is where the world`s best comes from and you better believe you can buy some great bubbly here along with any accessories to accompany Champagne culture. The following Champagne houses offer not only tours, but great gift shops:

- Pommery
- Taittinger
- Piper Heidsieck

When strolling through the city center of Reims, you really cannot fail to do some quality shopping and the Champagne houses allow visitors to obtain treasured regional goods; the city is definitely a shopper`s destination.

What should I do if I need medical assistance or need to go to the hospital?

Emergency dial 112

Police 117

Chu De Reims, Hospital Robert-Debré, University Hospital, Rue du Général Koenig, Tel. +33 3 26 78 78 78

Chu De Reims, Hospital Maison Blanche - General Hospital, Tel. +33 3 26 78 78 78