To the coronation!

We left Montemartre by metro and connected out to CDG where we picked up a car. Upon getting the GPS set to English (although I think I know my gauche from my droit), we were ready to go to Reims. Between 816 and 1825, Reims saw the coronation of over 2 dozen kings. I was going here for the champagne. Dad was going for the history. I don't think I could have possibly appreciated the history that this city has, Joan of Arc to Dwight Eisenhower, Clovis to Charlemagne, WWI and WWII. It just seems to not end, and then add in the champagne and you've got a pretty interesting place.

We made our way through the centre of town to Cathedrale Notre Dame (yep, another one). We stopped at the tourist office and ended up starting with a walking tour of Reims, instead of going straight to the cathedral. We toured around the various sites of Reims and quickly realized that almost the entire city is a rebuild. Following WWI, only a handful of homes remained standing undamaged.

 

 We later learned about how people sought refuge in the champagne cellars. So, when rebuilding the city, they tried to be true to the history of the place, but you can also see hints of Art Deco all over the place. It's a neat city. Reminds me a bit of Melbourne, but that may just be the trams.

Afte the walking tour, we headed back to the cathedral. The cathedral was started in 1211, but a church had stood on the same ground since the 5th century. 

In 496, St. Remi baptized Clovis on the site,  making him the first Catholic French king. It's also the site where Joan of Arc delivered Charles VII to his coronation. The last king to be crowned in Reims was Charles X in 1824. The cathedral is very impressive, although it seems the French were building a lot of gothic cathedrals around this time, and they do start to look the same.  

The one thing unique, both inside and out is the number of individual statues, from Christ and Mary Magdeline to the different saints to the smiling angel.  It is impressive. 

Oh, and I liked the rhino. 

After leaving the cathedral, we wandered around town for awhile longer and then picked up some wine, cheese and bread for dinner (I'm at that point that I am tired of eating out, and sacrilege, I don't love French food. Off to bed. Will check in again tomorrow.