Is Reims in the Champagne Region? What Visitors Need to Know
Yes. Reims is one of the main gateways to France’s Champagne wine region. You can tour historic champagne cellars in the city, then reach vineyards and wine villages within a short drive. It’s a convenient base if you want to combine champagne visits with the cathedral and a walkable city centre.
What this means for your trip
| Champagne houses and cellars | Several can be visited in Reims itself |
|---|---|
| Vineyards | Mostly on the slopes and around villages outside the city centre |
| Montagne de Reims | A wine-growing area around Reims, not a separate appellation |
| Administrative region | Reims is in the Marne department, in the Grand Est region |
If you stay in central Reims, you can spend a full day without a car. Rent one, book a driver or join a tour when you want to visit several vineyard villages or follow part of the Champagne wine route.
Why Reims is part of the Champagne story
Reims has long been a centre for making, ageing and selling champagne; beneath parts of the city, former chalk quarries were converted into cellars, where the steady underground conditions remain useful for ageing bottles today.
The cellars of Saint-Nicaise Hill in Reims form one of the three parts of the UNESCO-listed Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars. UNESCO also includes the historic vineyards around Hautvillers, Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, plus Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, connecting the places where the grapes grow with the cellars where champagne is made and the trading centres from which it is sold.
A champagne trip in Reims doesn’t begin and end in the vines. The city’s cellars, houses and trade are part of the story too. Pair a cellar tour with Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral and the historic centre; our guide to the best things to do in Reims can help you plan the rest of the day.
Can you see vineyards in Reims?
No. You won’t see rows of vines beside the cathedral. They begin outside the urban centre, on the surrounding slopes and near wine villages; Reims Tourism says the vines appear within minutes of leaving the city.
The Montagne de Reims curves around the city and is one of Champagne’s major wine-growing areas. It is part of the Champagne appellation, not an appellation of its own. Other vineyard areas near Reims include the Massif de Saint-Thierry and the Vesle and Ardre valleys.
Verzenay is a popular stop on the Montagne de Reims. Hautvillers, associated with the history of champagne, lies farther towards Épernay. Don’t try to cover the whole wine region in one day. One or two booked visits will leave you more time to enjoy the villages and scenery.
Should you stay in Reims or Épernay?
| Choose Reims for | Choose Épernay for |
|---|---|
| A larger city, the cathedral, major champagne houses and historic cellars | Avenue de Champagne and a smaller base close to several vineyard routes |
If this is your first visit and you want history as well as champagne, Reims is likely to suit you. It’s also an easy day trip from Paris because the fastest TGVs take around 45 minutes. Épernay, about 28 km away, offers a different starting point. Compare the train and road options in our guide to travelling from Paris to Champagne.
Do you need a car to explore Champagne from Reims?
Not for central Reims. You can reach the cathedral, city centre and some cellar tours on foot or by public transport. Book the cellar tour first, then plan the rest of your day around it: houses are spread across the city and visits may have fixed departure times.
A car gives you more freedom in the villages, especially if you have several appointments in different places. If you prefer not to drive after tastings, consider a guided tour, a taxi or the regional train between Reims and Épernay, a TER route promoted as the “Ligne des Bulles” that also serves stops in the wine country. Check the current timetable before planning around it.
Why maps may call the region Grand Est
The word “region” has two meanings here. For wine and tourism, Reims belongs to Champagne. On an administrative map, you’ll find the city in the Marne department within Grand Est. If an older guidebook says Champagne-Ardenne, it isn’t describing another place: that former administrative region became part of Grand Est in 2016.
For a relaxed first trip, stay in Reims for the cellars and monuments. Then set aside half a day or a full day for the vineyards outside the city.
