I started Kyudo in Japan and I continue it in France. Usually, I play only short distance (28m to the target), but there was a long distance (60m to the target this time) tournament in Reims in September, which is rare in France, so I decided to go to Reims as a precious opportunity to play long distance target.
It takes about 45 minutes from Paris to Reims by high-speed TGV train. It is a sufficient distance for a day trip, but since it was the first time for me to visit Reims, I decided to stay the night before and spend a day sightseeing in Reims.
When I arrived in Reims, the first thing I felt was that it was a small, clean town. Overall, it was new. I thought it was similar to Orleans, where my husband’s parents live. Most of the town was destroyed in World War I, but it is similar to Orléans, which was severely damaged and rebuilt in World War II.
The two towns are similar in their proximity to Paris, but another major similarity is Jeanne d’Arc, a young woman who in the first half of the 15th century appeared to hear the voice of God and saved France from a crisis, only to be burned for heresy two years later.
After the liberation of Orléans, Jeanne d’Arc realized the coronation of Charles VII in the Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims. Almost all other kings of France have been coronated in this cathedral, giving Reims the nickname “the city of coronations” (la Cite des Sacres) or “the city of kings” (la Cite des Rois).
Notre Dame Cathedral, the most famous cathedral in the city of Reims, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the three great cathedrals in France (Notre Dame de Paris is not included!). ). Once inside, you will be enchanted by the beautiful collection of stained glass windows. Most of the stained glass windows were reconstructed after World War I. They range from the “rose window” (a circular window made of stained glass) characteristic of Gothic architecture to modern ones made in the 2000s.
Of these, I most wanted to see Marc Chagall’s stained glass windows. The deep blue base was typical of Chagall, and the red in some places stood out against the light outside.
Part of the front of the cathedral was undergoing restoration work, but the statues lined up next to the entrance on the left are noteworthy. The angel on the far right is called “Ange au Sourire” (Angel of Smiles) and is a symbol of the revival of Reims.
We also took a guided tour at night, which was different from the daytime tour, and the dimly lit city at night was very atmospheric. The tour ended with a projection mapping of the cathedral. Projection mapping is held in summer and winter.
The Palais du Tau, located next to the cathedral, used to display items related to the coronation. It is currently under construction, but is scheduled to reopen in 2026. The name will be Musee des Sacres (meaning “Museum of the Coronation”), but our guide was very reluctant to change the name of the historic building, saying it was “too easy.
After the cathedral, I wanted to visit the Chapelle Foujita, which was built by Tsuguharu Fujita. Beautiful frescoes cover the walls, including those of Fujita and his wife Kimiyo. Mr. and Mrs. Fujita are buried in this chapel.
The Art Deco style building of the Carnegie Library is also a must-see. I quietly peeked inside the library so as not to disturb those who were reading quietly. The library also houses a rare book illustrated by Tsuguharu Fujita.
We also saw the Church of Saint Jacques, one of the oldest churches in Reims, the ruins of the Cordelier Abbey, the Mars Gate built in the Roman era in the 3rd century BC, and the Reims First World War Veterans Memorial. These things were all over the town, and we were glad to know where to go in the limited time we had.
I also went to Champagne Park, located on the outskirts of town, because of its name. It is a spacious park with nothing to offer, but there is a piano in the plaza, and the person playing it was quite good.
The most famous Reims pastry is the biscuit rose (pink biscuit). It is eaten dipped in champagne, a specialty of Reims. The most famous biscuits are made by the long-established Fossier, but when I visited one of their directly managed stores, I found pink everywhere inside the store!
The Biscuit Rose I tasted was too sweet for me, but if I were to dip it in champagne, maybe it would be just the right amount of sweetness? However, I am not a gourmand, so I bought a pink-colored sable, less sweet than the Biscuit Rose, raspberry vinegar, and crushed Biscuit Rose for confectionery as souvenirs.
Traveling alone and short on time, I visited a large market but was unable to try any of the local specialties in town. However, at a target shooting competition the next day, the locals served us pate en croute, a meat pate wrapped in pie crust. The prize for the winner of the target was a bottle of champagne! I also received a bottle of champagne, and after two fulfilling days, I returned to Paris in a good mood.
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