Palais du Tau, Reims

Palace in Reims

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Ludovic Péron

Right beside Reims Cathedral, the Palais du Tau feels like the missing piece of the coronation story. The cathedral was the stage for the ceremony, but this was the place of preparation, reception, and celebration-the lodgings where monarchs stayed and the setting for the banquets that followed. Walking through its rooms, you can almost hear the shift from ritual solemnity to courtly spectacle, which makes it a fascinating stop even if you're only in Reims for a day.

It's one of the top attractions in Reims because it turns the cathedral from a masterpiece of architecture into a living historical narrative, and it's a highlight of any walking tour of Reims thanks to its location and the way it connects so naturally with the surrounding historic centre. If you want a visit that blends art, politics, and ceremony without feeling academic, Palais du Tau is an easy win.

History and Significance of the Palais du Tau
Things to See and Do in the Palais du Tau
How to Get to the Palais du Tau
Practical Tips on Visiting the Palais du Tau
Where to Stay close to the Palais du Tau
Is the Palais du Tau Worth Visiting?
FAQs for Visiting Palais du Tau
For Different Travelers
Nearby Attractions to the Palais du Tau

History and Significance of the Palais du Tau

Palais du Tau served as the archbishops' palace of Reims and became inseparable from the coronation traditions that shaped French monarchy for centuries. Its significance is not only in its status, but in its function: this is where the machinery of a coronation could operate-hosting, accommodating, and displaying authority in the moments before and after the sacred ritual in the cathedral next door.

Architecturally, the palace reflects multiple eras. While the building presents strong 17th-century neoclassical character, it also contains notably preserved medieval spaces that anchor you in the palace’s earlier life. That layered feel is part of the experience: you move between rooms that suggest different political climates and aesthetic priorities, yet all still serve the same overarching theme of power, legitimacy, and ceremony.

As a UNESCO-listed site, the Palais du Tau is valued not just as a beautiful building but as a historic ensemble bound tightly to the cathedral. Visiting the two together is what makes the coronation narrative “click,” because the palace provides the human scale-where people slept, ate, planned, and celebrated.

Things to See and Do in the Palais du Tau

Begin with the palace rooms that retain a medieval character, because they set the tone and help you imagine what it meant for a royal household to arrive in Reims for a coronation. Even when the décor is no longer intact as it once was, the proportions and spatial logic still read as ceremonial: this was a place designed to impress and organise people.

Make sure you spend real time in the Salle du Tau, historically used as a post-coronation banquet hall. The highlight here is the tapestry display, especially the Arras tapestries depicting the story of Clovis, which add colour, narrative, and a strong sense of medieval prestige. They are the kind of artwork that rewards slow looking, because the details pull you into the story scene by scene.

Then head for the Chapelle Palatine and the treasury. This section is often the most memorable because the objects feel close to the coronation world-items associated with ritual, authority, and legacy, including pieces traditionally linked to figures like Charlemagne and Saint Rémi. Even if you’re not normally drawn to “treasuries,” the intimacy of the space and the weight of the story make it compelling.

How to Get to the Palais du Tau

Most international visitors arrive via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport or Paris Orly Airport and continue to Reims by train or road connections. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Reims on Booking.com. If you find flights into Châlons Vatry Airport, it can also be a useful regional option depending on your itinerary and season. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Reims on Booking.com.

Reims is easy to reach by train from Paris Gare de l'Est, typically arriving at Reims Centre, and from the station you can walk or take a short local ride to the cathedral area and Palais du Tau. You can use SNCF Connect to check schedules, compare routes, and purchase tickets for National (SNCF ) and regional trains (TER). For a more streamlined experience, we recommend using Omio, which allows you to easily compare prices, schedules, and book tickets for both National and Regional travel across all of Europe, all in one place.

If you’re travelling by car, the simplest approach is to use city-centre parking garages and continue on foot, since the historic core around the cathedral is best explored walking. If you are looking to rent a car in France I recommend having a look at Discover Cars, first, as they compare prices and review multiple car rental agencies for you.

Practical Tips on Visiting the Palais du Tau

Suggested tips: Pair the palace with Reims Cathedral on the same visit so the coronation story feels complete, then take a break in the square before moving on.
Best time to visit: Mid-morning on a weekday for a quieter museum experience and more time to linger in the Salle du Tau.
Entrance fee: Adults: €8.00
Opening hours: May–Aug Tues–Sun 9:30am–6:30pm; Sept–Apr Tues–Sun 9:30am–12:30pm and 2–5:30pm
Official website: https://www.palais-du-tau.fr
How long to spend: 60-90 minutes, longer if you enjoy reading gallery labels and taking your time in the tapestry and treasury sections.
Accessibility: Some areas may involve stairs or historic thresholds, so check current step-free access arrangements if needed.
Facilities: Expect basic visitor facilities, with cafés and restaurants immediately nearby in the cathedral district.
Photography tip: If photography is permitted, focus on wide room views in the Salle du Tau and controlled, steady shots in the treasury where lighting can be low.
Guided tours: A guided visit is especially useful here because it ties the palace directly to coronation customs and helps decode what you’re seeing.
Nearby food options: The cathedral area and central streets nearby are ideal for lunch or a Champagne bar stop after your visit.

Where to Stay close to the Palais du Tau

For the most convenient stay, choose a central Reims base so you can visit early, return later, and explore the cathedral quarter on foot. La Caserne Chanzy Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection is hard to beat for location if you want to be steps from the cathedral and palace. Best Western Premier Hôtel de la Paix is a comfortable central option with easy walking access to the main sights and dining streets. Holiday Inn Reims - Centre is a practical choice if you want a straightforward base near the centre without overplanning.

Is the Palais du Tau Worth Visiting?

Yes, especially if you're already visiting Reims Cathedral. The palace gives you the “behind the scenes” dimension of coronation history: where monarchs stayed, how celebration was staged, and how the Church's power and royal power intertwined in a very tangible way.

It's also worth it for the contrast. The cathedral is about height, light, and overwhelming scale, while the Palais du Tau is about rooms, objects, and narrative detail. Together they offer a more complete, more satisfying understanding of why Reims mattered so profoundly to French history.

FAQs for Visiting Palais du Tau

Yes, it sits immediately beside the cathedral, making it one of the easiest paired visits in the city.

It’s best known as the archbishops’ palace where French monarchs stayed during coronations and for its banquet hall and treasury.

Plan 60-90 minutes for a thorough visit, longer if you like reading labels and lingering with the tapestries.

The Salle du Tau with its tapestries and the Chapelle Palatine treasury are the essential highlights.

You’ll see a mix, with strong 17th-century character alongside preserved medieval spaces.

Usually you can visit without advance booking, but it can be helpful in peak season or if you’re joining a guided tour.

Yes, because the story is very clear: coronations, royal lodging, banquets, and treasures, all in a compact visit.

Yes, it’s central and easy to combine with the cathedral, the city centre, and nearby Champagne bars and restaurants.

Rules can vary by room and exhibition, so check on site, and expect low-light areas where steady shots work best.

Yes, especially if you focus on the coronation story, the big banquet hall, and the idea of royal ceremonies.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.3 (1,187)

Palais du Tau, at 2 Place du Cardinal Luçon in Reims, occupies the former bishops' residence next to the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Reims and presents an extensive collection of artifacts related to the cathedral and royal coronations, including statues, personal objects, clothing and jewelry; visitors praise the impressive, well-maintained building and displays, recommend arriving early to avoid queues, and suggest using an audio guide or combined ticket since exhibit text is primarily in French.

Sasha

3 years ago

"Wow, I've been through a lot of feelings going through this place with a great historical load. If you are a fan of history, I recommend you to visitthis place, it is the place where the kings were crowned, you can discover a multitude of personal objects of the royal family, clothes, jewelry. The location is impressive as a building, also right next to the cathedral. Everything is impeccable, mysterious, well maintained...."

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Dr. Jeevashi Pareemanen

3 years ago

"This is a place where Kings have been crowned. It is stu ing and mystical at the same time. Situated next to the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Reims, itis a place to see if you are fan of history and royalty. The display is amazing and takes you on a journey across the lives of Kings. We were alone in the museum early morning so that could be the best part of the day for a visit. Zero queueing and the whole place just for us, the stroll became almost a VIP one. It will not take more than 1 hour unless you really want to spend 5mins contemplating every display, carpet or statues. Equipped with the Education pass and a kid of 11, the entry was free on top of that. Plan your visit and buy your tickets in advance to go quicker otherwise wake up early and enjoy the museum at your own pace freely...."

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Tudor Iliescu

3 years ago

"Great artifact collection. Worth getting the audio guide because all the exhibit descriptions are in French. I would recommend getting a combinedticket because entry price is 8 Euros...."

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For Different Travelers

Families with Kids

This is a strong family stop because it has a clear story children can follow: kings came to Reims, stayed here, and celebrated after the ceremony next door. The Salle du Tau works particularly well because it feels like a real “event space,” and the tapestries can be approached as picture-stories rather than academic art.

Keep the visit moving with a simple plan: one pass through the main rooms, a longer pause in the banquet hall, then a short look in the treasury. Afterward, the cathedral square is perfect for a reset break.

Couples & Romantic Getaways

For couples, Palais du Tau is a natural companion to the cathedral and creates a very satisfying half-day in the historic centre. The palace rooms feel intimate compared with the cathedral, and the coronation narrative adds a sense of occasion that suits a slow, romantic city break.

It also pairs beautifully with a Champagne-focused afternoon. After the palace, it’s easy to drift into the centre for a tasting, an elegant bar, or a long dinner, keeping the day cohesive rather than scattered.

Budget Travelers

This is a worthwhile ticketed stop if you want your Reims visit to feel historically complete, since it adds the royal and ceremonial context that the cathedral alone can't provide. To manage costs, combine it with free highlights such as time in the cathedral, a walk through the central streets, and a pause in the squares.

If you're choosing only one paid museum experience in Reims, Palais du Tau is a strong candidate because the subject matter is unique to this city and tightly connected to its most famous monument.

History Buffs

History-focused travellers will find this one of the most rewarding visits in Reims because it's essentially the coronation story made tangible. The palace spaces, the banquet hall tradition, and the treasury objects all reinforce how monarchy, church authority, and public ritual operated in practice.

It’s also a great place to pay attention to historical layering. The combination of medieval rooms with later architectural character shows how institutions preserve continuity while constantly reshaping the spaces that represent them.

Nearby Attractions to the Palais du Tau

Reims Cathedral: The city's essential Gothic masterpiece and the historic coronation church, directly next door.
Place Royale: A graceful square with a strong sense of classical urban planning and a relaxed café atmosphere.
Basilique Saint-Remi: A major historic church linked to Reims' early Christian heritage and royal memory.
Musée Saint-Remi: A museum that adds context on Reims from Roman roots through later city history.
Champagne house cellars: Guided cellar visits and tastings that connect Reims' heritage to its most famous modern craft.

The Palais du Tau appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Reims!

Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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