Notre-Dame Cathedral

There it is! Notre-Dame Cathedral! Reims’ Cathedral stands before you with its breathtaking architecture. Get ready because there is a lot to say about this wonderful sanctuary. What you have here is a true Gothic art masterpiece, with towers almost 82 metres high, a rose window that symbolises eternity, and richly decorated portals. Although its appearance is undoubtedly exceptional, that’s not what makes it famous. Rather, it is known for its centuries-long task of hosting the coronations of 31 kings of France! The question is, why here? Well, it’s simply because Clovis, the first king of the Franks, was baptised here at the end of the fifth century. In fact, there is a plaque on the floor of the cathedral showing the very spot where he was baptised. During that era, his baptism was of tremendous importance, since it symbolised the king’s conversion to Christian faith, whereas he had previously been a pagan.Clovis wasn’t baptised in the current  Reims Cathedral, as it was built much later, but rather in the church that stood on the site at the time. The kings of France began to be crowned here from the 11th century onwards in honour of this highly symbolic baptism. The presence of the Holy Ampulla, a vial believed to contain the sacred oil used in the baptism of Clovis, also contributed to the choice of Reims as the venue for coronations. A good number of kings were thus crowned in the old church, the first being Henry I in 1027. Louis XI was the first king to be crowned in the new cathedral, even though it had not yet been completed. Reims has witnessed the coronation of 31 kings of France in 800 years.  Only seven kings chose a different loication, including Henri IV – who was crowned at the Chartres cathedral. Despite having suffered several fires over the centuries, the cathedral has always been restored and continues to represent a strong symbol of France. That’s why in 1914, just a few months after the start of World War I, the Germans intentionally targeted it, strategically aiming to undermine the morale of the French. It burned down due to the bombings: one of France’s biggest landmarks was destroyed. One of its statues made headlines around the world. Get closer to the gate on the far left. It’s right here: the one just to the left of the door. Smiling and with wings on its back, it was built in the 13th century along with the cathedral. It lost its head during the bombings. Badly damaged and robbed of its smile, it became an emblem of Reims, proving the barbarity of the German troops, who mercilessly bombed a cathedral emblematic of France. Today restored to its original state, it has been placed back on the cathedral. See it? It’s called the Smiling Angel. And speaking of statues, did you know that the Reims Cathedral has more than 2,300 of them? It has the richest statuary of all the Gothic cathedrals in Europe. Step back and look up to see the breathtaking gallery of kings, which, with its 56 statues, glorifies royalty. In the middle, you’ll find Clovis and his wife Clothilde. Thankfully, after the war, extensive restoration work was undertaken to restore it to its former glory and preserve this exceptional heritage! Of course, I highly recommend going inside and discovering the breathtaking interior!