Travel: 48 hours in Reims, France

Robin Gauldie spends a weekend in Reims

Our Lady of Reims Cathedral dates back to 1211. Picture: csfotoimages

Friday, 8pm

Check in at Hotel Cecyl (24 rue Buirette, 51100 Reims; tel: [phone], www.hotel-cecyl.fr). Doubles at this chic little hotel start at €85.

Saturday, 10am

Visit Halles du Boulingrin, where you can enjoy Reimois specialties such as jambon de Reims and Distillerie Guillon’s single malt whisky.

Midday

Lunch at Brasserie du Boulingrin (29-31 Rue de Mars; tel: [phone], www.boulingrin.fr, set menu from €9.50) for a menu that is strong on seafood and Champenois terroir.

2pm

Cathédral Notre-Dame, founded in 1211, has gorgeous medieval and modern stained glass and towers to climb. Cross the courtyard to the Palais du Tau (www.monuments-nationaux.fr; combined ticket €11) for sculpture and religious art.

4pm

Visit FRAC, the Champagne-Ardenne Regional Foundation for Contemporary Art, with art from the 1960s to the 21st century (1 Place Museux; tel: [phone], www.frac-champagneardenne.org; free).

8pm

Enjoy classic French dishes at l’Alambic (63 bis Rue de Chativesle; tel: [phone], www.restaurant-lalambic.fr; set menu €39 each).

11pm

Sip a digestif while listening to soft jazz at L’As Before, Reims’s swish piano bar (35 rue Buirette, 51100 Reims; tel: [phone], www.salon-degermann.com).

Sunday, 10am

Visit the world’s oldest champagne house. A two-hour tour of Maison Ruinart (4 Rues des Crayères, 51100 Reims; tel: [phone], www.ruinart.com; €70 per person) and its cellars ends with a tasting session.

Midday

Lunch at L’Edito (74-80 Place Drouet d’Erlon; tel: [phone], www.brasserie-ledito-reims.fr; from €30).

2pm

Learn to tango at Salon Degermann (35 rue Buirette, 51100 Reims; tel: [phone], www.salon-degermann.com) a glittering belle époque salon.

5pm

Catch your train back to Paris.

• Air France (www.airfrance.com) and Easyjet (www.easyjet.com) fly daily from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Charles de Gaulle airport. Trains to Reims take around 30 minutes; www.reims-tourism.com; www.tourisme-champagne-ardenne.com