Car Hire in Reims — Where Kings Were Crowned and Bubbles Are Born
Reims is a city of ceremony and craftsmanship. For a thousand years, French kings were crowned in its cathedral, and for nearly as long, the chalk caves beneath the city have aged the world's most famous sparkling wine. A rental car here lets you move between Gothic magnificence and vineyard practicality — tasting in cellars, driving the Route Touristique du Champagne, and exploring a region where every hill seems to carry grapes. The city itself is walkable and rewarding, with the cathedral dominating a centre that mixes medieval lanes with 19th-century boulevards rebuilt after wartime damage. But the real depth of Champagne country lies outside the ring road — in the villages of the Montagne de Reims, the Marne valley, and the Côte des Blancs. A car turns a city visit into a regional exploration. Pickup locations are typically near the station or in the city centre. Confirm the exact address and opening hours on your voucher, and be aware that some suppliers use parking structures a short walk from their office.
Champagne is one of the few wine regions where a car is genuinely useful rather than merely convenient. The vineyards spread across rolling hills in a patchwork of small parcels, each with its own name and reputation. The champagne houses in Reims and Épernay offer tours and tastings, but the grower-producers in the villages often welcome visitors by appointment and charge less for equally serious wine. A car lets you design your own route, stop at viewpoints, and carry cases safely. The region also rewards drivers with interests beyond wine. The Montagne de Reims regional park offers forest walks and views over the vineyards. Laon, to the north, has a cathedral perched on a hilltop that rivals Reims itself. And Verdun, to the east, carries the weight of a war that reshaped Europe. All are within reach of a Reims base, though each deserves a dedicated day.
Coronation city of French kings; UNESCO-listed Gothic cathedral
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Route Touristique du Champagne through vineyard villages and cellars
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A4 west to Paris; east to Strasbourg and the German border
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Cellar tours and tastings often require advance booking
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Match collection to the actual itinerary
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Station or Centre Collection
Most Reims rentals are collected near the main station or a downtown office close to the cathedral. Check your voucher for the exact address — some suppliers use multi-storey car parks that require a short walk or elevator ride. Weekend hours are usually limited, and Monday mornings can be busy.
Champagne Houses and Vineyard Drives
A car lets you visit the grandes maisons in Reims, the smaller growers in villages like Verzenay and Bouzy, and the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay in a single flexible trip. Public transport connects Reims and Épernay, but the vineyard lanes and viewpoints between them are only accessible by road.
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Reims carries its history heavily. The cathedral facade — damaged in the First World War, rebuilt stone by stone — tells the story of a city that has been destroyed and restored multiple times. The kings who were crowned here ruled a France that no longer exists, yet the ritual left an imprint on the city's identity that persists in the grandeur of its public spaces.
The champagne houses have their own history, written in the chalk mines beneath the streets. The temperature in these caves stays constant year-round, and the bottles age in darkness for years before they are ready. Visiting is part geology, part craftsmanship, and part theatre — the guide's explanation of riddling and disgorgement, the tasting room's hush, the sudden release of pressure when the cork comes out.
With a car, the region expands. The Montagne de Reims, just south, is a forested plateau surrounded by vineyards that produce some of the most prestigious champagne grapes. The Marne valley, towards Épernay, is softer and more agricultural. And further east, the landscape changes again — flatter, more wooded, eventually reaching the battlefields of Verdun where the silence of the cemeteries speaks louder than any guide. Reims is a city, but it is also a starting point for understanding a corner of France that has shaped European history in ways that go far beyond wine.
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Mileage and territory
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Extras and return
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Choose for people, bags and roads
A category normally represents a group of similar cars, not a promise of one exact model.
- Compact: convenient for couples and tighter parking.
- Intermediate: more room for bags and longer journeys.
- Family or SUV category: useful only when the required capacity justifies it.
- Transmission: select automatic explicitly if manual is unsuitable.
Practical planning before departure
Parking in Reims
The centre around the cathedral has metered street parking and several underground garages. Spaces tighten on weekends and during events. If you are heading straight to the vineyards, use a peripheral car park and avoid the narrow streets of the historic core.
Driving the champagne route
The D roads through the Montagne de Reims and the Marne valley are well-maintained and clearly signposted. They are narrower than motorways and pass through villages where speed limits drop sharply. The priority is scenery and access — allow extra time and do not rush.
Tastings and driving
Champagne houses provide spit buckets for tastings. If you are driving, use them. Many also offer non-alcoholic options or packaged samples to take away. Plan your route so that the most generous tastings happen at the end of the day, or nominate a non-drinking driver.
Local access, road and operating conditions can change. Check current signs, your supplier instructions and the linked source before travelling: France official tourism information.
Build a realistic first journey
Reims to Épernay
South on the D roads through the Marne valley to the other champagne capital. The Avenue de Champagne is lined with the headquarters of Moët & Chandon, Mercier, and others. The views over the river and vineyards are beautiful, and the town itself is smaller and more walkable than Reims.
Reims to the Montagne de Reims
Southeast into the regional park, driving through villages like Verzenay and Bouzy that give their names to celebrated vineyards. The Route du Champagne winds through forest and vineyard, with the lighthouse at Verzenay offering panoramic views over the plain.
Reims to Verdun
East on the A4 for one of France's most historically significant sites. The battlefields, ossuary, and fortifications of Verdun demand a full day. The route passes through quiet countryside that contrasts with the weight of the destination. Allow time for reflection — this is not a route to rush.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book champagne house tours in advance?
Yes — the major houses like Taittinger, Pommery, and Mumm fill up, especially on weekends and in summer. Smaller growers often accept walk-ins but prefer advance notice. Book online or call ahead to avoid disappointment.
Can I visit multiple houses in one day?
Yes, but pace yourself. Most tours last timing that varies with traffic and conditions including tasting, and the cellars are chilly — bring a layer. Three houses in a day is reasonable; more becomes a blur of bubbles and history.
Is the champagne route suitable for non-drivers?
Reims and Épernay are connected by train, and some tour operators offer guided minibus routes through the vineyards. But the real pleasure is in the flexibility of driving — stopping at viewpoints, visiting smaller growers, and timing your day to your own rhythm.
What is there to see beyond champagne?
Laon's hilltop cathedral, the forests of the Montagne de Reims, and the WWI history at Verdun are all within reach. The Ardennes begin northeast of Reims, offering a different landscape of rivers and forests that feels far from the vineyards.
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