Parc de Champagne, Reims

Park in Reims

Parc de champagne
Parc de champagne
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Garitan

Parc de Champagne is where Reims feels most like a lived-in city rather than a collection of monuments. Created in the early 20th century with support from the Pommery Champagne world, it offers a broad, breathing-space landscape of paths, lawns, and mature trees that makes a perfect break from cellar tours and cathedral interiors. It's the kind of place you come to reset your pace, especially if you've been packing your itinerary with museums and tastings.

Because it sits slightly away from the densest sightseeing cluster, it's one of the best places to see in Reims if you want something locals actually use day to day, not just a landmark to photograph. It's also a great place to visit on a walking tour of Reims when you want to include the city's Belle Époque and modern layers, and to understand how Champagne money and civic life shaped public spaces as much as private estates.

History and Significance of the Parc de Champagne

Parc de Champagne was inaugurated in 1910 and designed by Édouard Redont, a landscape architect from Reims who helped shape the park's mix of picturesque scenery and practical recreation. The park's origins are closely tied to the civic confidence of the early 20th century, when well-designed public spaces were seen as both a social good and a marker of a progressive city.

Its story is also inseparable from the First World War. Like much of Reims, the park suffered badly during the conflict, and the fact that it was later acquired by the city and restored speaks to a broader effort to rebuild not only buildings but public life. The restoration preserved the underlying plan, allowing the park to keep its historical character while becoming a modern green space again.

Today, the park's significance is less about a single monument and more about atmosphere and continuity. The surviving historical structures and the diversity of trees create a sense of a designed landscape that has lived through multiple eras. In a city known for stone and underground chalk, Parc de Champagne adds an essential outdoor chapter to the Reims story.

Things to See and Do in the Parc de Champagne

The simplest way to enjoy the park is to walk it slowly. Follow the main paths first to understand the layout, then take smaller loops that weave through groves and open lawns. The park is designed to feel spacious, so it works well even when there are plenty of people around; you can always find a quieter corner.

If you enjoy parks as a lens on city life, spend time watching how people use the space. You’ll see runners, families, casual games, and relaxed picnic groups, which can feel refreshing after the more formal mood of Reims’ historic centre. The park’s sporting and open-air recreation identity is part of its DNA, so it’s worth leaning into that with a jog, a long walk, or simply stretching out on the grass.

Look out for the historical remnants that still punctuate the landscape. They’re not “must-see” in the sense of a cathedral façade, but they add texture and a feeling of continuity, hinting at how the park once hosted larger gatherings before the war changed everything.

How to Get to the Parc de Champagne

Most international visitors reach Reims via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport or Paris Orly Airport, then continue to the city overland. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Reims on Booking.com.

Reims is straightforward by train from Paris Gare de l'Est, and once you arrive you can reach the park area by local transport or taxi depending on where you're staying. 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, you can usually approach the park conveniently and park nearby, then explore on foot once you arrive. 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 Parc de Champagne

  • Suggested tips: Bring a drink and something small to eat, then treat the park as a deliberate “slow hour” between heavier sightseeing blocks.
  • Best time to visit: Late morning for quiet paths, or early evening for a relaxed local atmosphere and soft light through the trees.
  • Entrance fee: Free.
  • Opening hours: Open daily; access hours can vary seasonally.
  • How long to spend: 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on whether you’re walking, jogging, or picnicking.
  • Accessibility: Generally accessible on main paths, though surfaces vary; step-free routes are usually possible within large park areas.
  • Facilities: Limited on-site; plan toilets and cafés around your route, especially if you’re coming straight from the centre.
  • Photography tip: For a sense of scale, shoot long path perspectives and wide lawn views; early evening light tends to flatter the tree canopy.
  • Guided tours: Not essential, but a walking tour that links the park to the Pommery/Villa Demoiselle district can add context.
  • Nearby food options: Pack picnic snacks, then head back toward central Reims or the Champagne-house district for a proper meal afterward.

Where to Stay close to the Parc de Champagne

Most visitors will still prefer staying in central Reims and visiting the park as an easy outing, since it keeps restaurants and evening walks simple. Best Western Premier Hôtel de la Paix is a comfortable base for mixing parks, Champagne houses, and the cathedral district in a single trip. Holiday Inn Reims - Centre is a practical option with straightforward access to taxis and local transport for reaching the park quickly. If you want the cathedral right on your doorstep for early starts and late strolls, La Caserne Chanzy Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection gives you a classic Reims base while keeping Parc de Champagne within easy reach.

Add a Is the Parc de Champagne Worth Visiting?

Yes, especially if your Reims itinerary is heavy on stone, underground tours, and museum labels. Parc de Champagne gives you space, air, and a sense of local rhythm, which can make the rest of the trip feel more balanced. It's the kind of place that quietly improves a day without demanding much planning.

It’s also worth visiting because it connects Reims’ Champagne heritage to civic life in a subtle way. The park’s origins, restoration story, and continued public use show how the Champagne economy helped shape the city not only through famous houses, but through the shared spaces where people actually spend their weekends.

FAQs for Visiting Parc de Champagne

It is a large public park in Reims designed in the early 20th century as a landscaped space with strong recreation and sports character.
No, the park is free to enter.
Plan 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on whether you’re walking, relaxing, or exercising.
Yes, it’s ideal as a slow, restorative stop between monuments, museums, and Champagne-house tours.
Yes, it has open lawns and a relaxed feel that works well for picnics.
Yes, the space and recreation focus make it easy for families, especially if children need room to move.
It’s in the broader Reims area and can be paired with nearby Champagne-related visits depending on your route.
Main paths are generally manageable, but surfaces vary; it’s best to stick to the widest routes for easiest access.
Late morning for quiet, or early evening for a lively local atmosphere and softer light.
No, it’s easy to enjoy self-guided, though a themed walking route can add historical context.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.6 (3,615)

Parc de Champagne, at 10 Av. du Général Giraud in Reims, is a large, well‑maintained, tree‑filled green space with playgrounds for different ages, sports fields (including rugby/soccer and beach volleyball), basketball courts and outdoor training equipment for adults; visitors note clean on‑site toilets, parking, picnic areas and dog‑friendly facilities including an off‑leash play area and waste bag dispensers, making it a popular spot for families, sport and events.

Rian Gonzales
2 years ago
"Absolutely wonderful and well maintained park! Very dog-friendly also, they even have a dedicated play area where they can go off-leash! 💖 There aresome picnic areas, dog plastic bag dispensers are provided and there's areas where you can play rugby or soccer. 10/10 would recommand..."
Y K
6 years ago
"It’s really nice place for kids!! They have athletics for small children(0-3) on the photo and +3 years old children. Also they have tranig machinesfor adults. It’s huge park so if you drop your car at the parking lot, go left at the first fork and walking for 3-5 minutes, you will find the park on your left (We went right at the fork and it takes more than 20 minutes to get there😇)...."
Gleb Filippov
7 years ago
"Very nice park with several big kids playgrounds. It also has a “beach” area with a beach volleyball field. Toilets are available on site and theywere clean...."

For Different Travelers

Families with Kids

This is one of the easiest Reims stops for families because it gives children space to run and reset after quieter indoor visits. Plan a simple loop walk, then let kids enjoy the open lawns before moving on to the next sight.

Bring snacks and treat it as a flexible “buffer” in your itinerary. Even a short 30-45 minute stop can improve the mood of an otherwise packed day.

Couples & Romantic Getaways

For couples, Parc de Champagne is a calm counterpoint to Champagne tastings and cathedral crowds. A slow walk here can feel surprisingly romantic, especially in the late afternoon when the light is softer and the pace is gentler.

It also works well as a low-key “in-between” moment: visit a Champagne house, take a walk in the park to decompress, then head back into the centre for dinner.

Budget Travelers

This is a high-value stop because it's free and genuinely pleasant. If you're balancing paid cellar tours and museums, Parc de Champagne helps you build a full day without adding ticket costs.

Use it as your scenic walking block, then spend your budget where it matters most to you, whether that’s one cellar visit or one standout museum.

Nearby Attractions to the Parc de Champagne

  • Domaine Pommery: A famous crayères cellar tour with contemporary art installations and tastings.
  • Villa Demoiselle: A Belle Époque mansion blending Art Nouveau and Art Deco interiors beside Pommery.
  • Basilique Saint-Remi: A UNESCO basilica with a serene Romanesque nave and the tomb of Saint Rémi.
  • Musée Saint-Remi: A former royal abbey museum exploring Reims from Roman times to the Renaissance.
  • Reims Cathedral: The city's essential Gothic landmark and historic coronation church.

The Parc de Champagne appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Reims!

Moira & Andy
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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Planning Your Visit

Hours:

Open daily; access hours can vary seasonally.

Price:

Free.

Address: Parc de Champagne, Avenue du Général Giraud, Reims, France
Reims: 3 km
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