Visit to Notre-Dame Cathedral in Reims

Like over 2 million visitors a year, come and discover Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral. If you’re planning a trip to the city and want to organise your excursions as effectively as possible, you’ve come to the right place.

In this presentation, you’ll find all the information you need to plan your visit.

Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral in a few words

Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral is a 13th-century monument built in homage to the Virgin Mary. The building’s main distinctive feature is that, with a few exceptions, it has hosted all the coronations of the Kings of France. Today, the cathedral is the seat of the city’s archdiocese. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Reims is often compared to Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. In fact, if you’re familiar with the Paris cathedral, you’re bound to notice an uncanny resemblance between the two monuments. However, the cathedral in Reims is different in that it is much larger than the one in Paris.

Over the course of its long history, Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral has seen many ups and downs. This was particularly the case during the First World War, when a bombardment caused enormous damage to the cathedral.

Most of its original stained glass windows were lost at that time. Today’s windows are contemporary and were created by different artists.

Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral: must-sees

If you want to discover Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral but don’t quite know where to start, don’t panic. There’s a dedicated guide below.

1 – The cathedral facades

The first thing you need to admire to soak up the soul of Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral is its facades. These will allow you to discover the complex architecture of the building. You can also admire its rich ornamentation, such as its arches and tympanums, as well as its many ornamental sculptures.

Among the best known, the Kings’ Gallery and its 56 statues are a must-see. The central portal, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is also a masterpiece.

2 – The heart and nave of the cathedral

The heart and nave of the cathedral are located inside the building. As soon as you step inside this exceptional monument, you can’t fail to admire and feel its splendour. First and foremost, you’ll be impressed by its three-storey nave. You won’t fail to notice, either, the remarkable arcade work that extends to the choir and altar.

All the splendour of the Gothic style is expressed in magnificent fashion.

3 – The cathedral’s stained glass windows

No one can enter a cathedral of this size without taking the time to admire the splendid work done on the various stained glass windows. It has to be said that Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral boasts a spectacular collection.

It includes both period works (such as the rose on the west façade) and contemporary creations, as mentioned earlier in this article. The artists who have contributed to these works include famous names such as Marc Chagall.

4 – The cathedral’s sculptures

Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral contains exactly 2,303 statues. They deserve special attention. Lovers of religious art will not fail to notice the diversity of the statues, including bas-reliefs, column statues, cherubs and much more.

These have earned it the title of Gothic cathedral with the most sculptures in France.

How much does admission to Notre-Dame de Reims cost?

Like many religious monuments in France, admission to Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral is free. So you can enter the building and explore every nook and cranny without paying a single euro.

However, the Reims Tourist Office does offer guided tours of the Cathedral. These tours are particularly interesting and provide a more immersive experience. To take advantage of this type of tour, contact the Tourist Office directly.

The cost of a guided tour is €9 for adults and €4.50 for children aged 12 and over. Guided tours are free for younger visitors, and special rates may apply for students and certain groups.

What are the opening days and times of Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral?

Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral is open to the public every day from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, and until 7:15 p.m. only on Sundays and religious holidays (Easter, Christmas, etc.). Tourists are not allowed inside the building during religious services.

Further information

• Attend religious services at the cathedral: you can attend the religious services held every morning from 8 am in the cathedral. On Sundays, this service takes place at 9:30 am. Masses are also held at the end of the day at 7 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

• PRM accessibility

• Pet policy: pets are not allowed inside the cathedral. You can still admire the facades with your dog by taking a walk around the park, for example.

In conclusion:

With all this information, you are now in a position to organise your visit to Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral as effectively as possible. This sublime building is probably one of the most emblematic in the city.

As you can see, it would be a real shame to miss it during your stay in Reims. What’s more, entering this monument is a bit like walking in the footsteps of many of the kings of France, and for that reason alone, the visit is well worth the diversions.

So don’t hesitate any longer and start planning your visit now.