Reims is the capital of Champagne. Beneath the city lie kilometres of galleries and crayères, former Gallo-Roman chalk quarries where millions of bottles age slowly. Since 2015, the Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, including several Reims houses.
The great houses to visit
Pommery: on the Saint-Nicaise hill, its Elizabethan-style estate hides spectacular crayères that regularly host contemporary art exhibitions.
Taittinger: its cellars partly extend into the remains of a former abbey. A very popular tour, best booked early.
Veuve Clicquot: the house is named after Barbe-Nicole Clicquot, widowed in 1805, who became one of the first women to run a Champagne house. Its crayères are among the most impressive in Reims.
Ruinart: founded in 1729, it is the oldest Champagne house. Its crayères are listed as a historic monument.
Mumm: close to the city centre and the station, a good option if you don’t want to walk too far.
Lanson, and other houses such as G.H. Martel or Charles de Cazanove, also offer tours or tastings.
Planning your visit
- Book ahead on the house’s official website: slots are limited, especially at weekends and in summer.
- Bring a warm layer: the temperature in the cellars stays around 10 to 12 °C all year round.
- Allow about 1 to 1.5 hours per tour, tasting included. Formats and prices vary with the number of cuvées tasted.
- Don’t drive after several tastings: in Reims, most houses can be reached on foot, by tram or by bus.
Combining Champagne and heritage
Pommery, Taittinger and Ruinart are close to one another, and the Saint-Remi Basilica is not far away: perfect for a day mixing heritage and Champagne. For a full plan, read our article What to do in Reims in a weekend.
Stay in Reims with Opus Reims
Our Opus Reims Robespierre apartment is a bright two-bedroom flat for up to 6 guests near Place Luton, a few minutes from the tram: equipped kitchen, fibre wifi, washing machine and self check-in. Book direct on our website for the best price.