Reims Cryptoporticus

Roman Site in Reims

Reims Cryptoporticus
Reims Cryptoporticus
CC BY-SA 4.0 / ADT Marne

The Cryptoportique de Reims is one of those places that makes you realise how layered the city really is. You can be in the middle of modern Reims and, within minutes, step into a cool, semi-underground Roman corridor where arches and vaults still hold the space with quiet confidence. It's an unexpectedly atmospheric stop-part archaeological site, part urban secret-and it's often the visit people remember because it feels like discovering something rather than simply ticking off a landmark.

If you're exploring Reims on foot, this spot is one of the top sights in Reims because it connects the city to its ancient identity as Durocortorum in a tangible, walk-through way. It's also a great place to visit on a walking tour of Reims since it sits comfortably alongside the cathedral and central squares, offering a Roman chapter right in the heart of the city.

History and Significance of the Cryptoportique de Reims

A cryptoporticus, sometimes called a cryptoportico, was a sheltered corridor in Roman architecture, typically semi-underground and vaulted. These galleries were practical as well as impressive: they supported above-ground structures like porticoes, forums, or villas, and they created a stable, cool environment that could also be used for storage. In cities, they often formed part of a larger civic complex, helping engineers level uneven ground and provide strong foundations.

In Reims, the cryptoporticus dates to the 3rd century AD, when the city was the Gallo-Roman town of Durocortorum. It is thought to have been one of the corridors that bordered the Roman forum complex, functioning as both a structural support and a covered passage. That combination of engineering and civic planning is exactly what makes Roman urbanism so enduring: these were buildings designed to organise movement, hold space, and support monumental public life.

What makes the Cryptoportique de Reims especially significant is its preservation. Many Roman cryptoportici survive only as fragments, but here the repeating arches and long corridor lines still read clearly, allowing you to experience the space the way Romans intended: as a functional, shaded gallery beneath the civic heart of the city.

Things to See and Do in the Cryptoportique de Reims

The best way to experience the cryptoporticus is simply to walk it slowly and let the architecture do the work. Notice how the vaulting shapes the acoustics and how the light enters at higher points, creating pockets of brightness that move your eye forward through the corridor. It’s a subtle place, but it rewards attention to rhythm: arch after arch, bay after bay, with a calm, almost meditative repetition.

Look for changes in masonry and the way the structure sits against the earth. Part of the fascination is that this is both architecture and infrastructure-built to support what was above while remaining usable itself. If you’ve ever wondered how Romans built on uneven ground without modern concrete systems, this is a very real, walk-in answer.

Because it’s centrally placed, it’s easy to pair the visit with nearby Roman and medieval layers. Many travellers find it works best as a “reset stop” between big-ticket sights: a short descent into cool air, a quiet walk, then back to the city’s cafés and cathedral streets.

Practical Tips on Visiting the Cryptoportique de Reims

  • Suggested tips: Go when you want a quiet break from busy streets, and take your time-this is more about atmosphere than a long checklist of exhibits.
  • Best time to visit: Late morning or mid-afternoon, when you can pair it smoothly with central Reims walking and café time.
  • Entrance fee: Free.
  • Opening hours: Access can vary
  • How long to spend: 15-35 minutes, longer if you enjoy photography and architectural details.
  • Accessibility: Expect steps and uneven surfaces in a semi-underground archaeological space; access may be limited for wheelchairs and strollers.
  • Facilities: None on site; plan toilets and cafés in the immediate city centre nearby.
  • Photography tip: Use the repeating arches for strong perspective shots; low light can make steady, slower photos work better than quick snaps.
  • Guided tours: Not essential, but valuable if you want the forum context and a clearer sense of what the structure supported above ground.
  • Nearby food options: The cryptoporticus is best paired with a central café stop before or after, since you're right in the heart of Reims.

Where to Stay close to the Cryptoportique de Reims

If you want to maximise walking and minimise transport, staying near central Reims is ideal, since the cryptoporticus sits within the city's most convenient sightseeing zone. Best Western Premier Hôtel de la Paix is a comfortable base near the main streets and an easy stroll to central Roman and Gothic sights. Holiday Inn Reims - Centre is a practical option that keeps restaurants, transport, and landmarks within quick reach. For a cathedral-quarter stay that feels especially “Reims,” La Caserne Chanzy Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection puts you right beside the city’s headline monument while keeping the cryptoporticus close by on foot.

Add a Is the Cryptoportique de Reims Worth Visiting?

Yes, particularly because it's quick, atmospheric, and genuinely different from the city's more famous sights. The cryptoporticus doesn't demand a long visit, but it gives you a powerful sense of how ancient Reims was organised and built, and how much of that structure still survives under today's streets.

It's also worth visiting because it adds depth to your understanding of Reims as Durocortorum. After you've walked these arches, the Roman name stops feeling like a footnote and starts feeling like a real city you can still partially enter.

FAQs for Visiting Cryptoportique de Reims

It is a semi-underground Roman vaulted corridor in central Reims, preserved from the city’s ancient period as Durocortorum.
A cryptoporticus is a sheltered, often semi-underground corridor used in Roman architecture to support structures above and provide a shaded passageway.
It dates to the 3rd century AD.
Most visitors spend 15-35 minutes.
No, it is typically free to visit.
It is semi-underground, sheltered by vaults, and feels like an interior space even though it’s part of an archaeological site.
Access can be limited due to steps and uneven surfaces; it’s best to check current conditions on arrival.
Focus on the repeating arches, the vaulting, the way light enters the corridor, and how the structure sits against the earth.
Yes, the arches create strong perspective lines; low light means steadier shots work best.
Yes, it’s ideal as a short stop between central sights like squares, museums, and the cathedral area.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

Cryptoportique Gallo-Romain, located in Reims at 51100, invites visitors to explore an ancient semi-subterranean Roman gallery beneath the city; the site's name and address suggest a historic archaeological feature offering a glimpse into the city's past through its preserved underground structure.

For Different Travelers

Families with Kids

This can be a fun “secret tunnel” style stop for families, especially if your kids enjoy exploring spaces that feel hidden and historic. Keep it short, focus on the arches and echoes, and set clear rules about walking carefully since surfaces can be uneven.

It works best as a quick curiosity rather than a long lesson. Pair it with something more open-air afterward, like a square or a park, to balance the day.

Couples & Romantic Getaways

For couples, the cryptoporticus is a lovely change of tempo-cool, quiet, and slightly mysterious. It’s the kind of place where you naturally slow down, and it adds a “discovery” moment to an itinerary that might otherwise focus on bigger headline monuments.

Visit it as part of a relaxed central stroll, then follow with a café stop. The contrast between underground calm and lively streets above can make the day feel more textured and memorable.

Budget Travelers

This is an excellent budget-friendly sight because it's quick, central, and usually free. It gives you a meaningful slice of ancient history without needing tickets, and it fits neatly into a walking day around Reims.

Use it as a “free highlight” between paid experiences like museums or Champagne tours, so your itinerary feels full without stacking costs.

History Buffs

For history buffs, this is one of the most satisfying Roman remnants in Reims because it's experiential. You're not just looking at stones behind glass; you're walking through a piece of the city's infrastructure and imagining the forum complex above.

To get the most out of it, read the space like an engineer: consider how it supported structures, levelled terrain, and organised movement within the Roman civic centre.

Nearby Attractions to the Cryptoportique de Reims

  • Place du Forum: A central square area that helps contextualise the cryptoporticus within ancient Durocortorum’s civic core.
  • Porte de Mars: A monumental Roman arch that anchors Reims' ancient identity in a single dramatic structure.
  • Reims Cathedral: The city's essential Gothic landmark and historic coronation church.
  • Palais du Tau: The former archbishops' palace beside the cathedral, tied to coronation ceremonies and royal stays.
  • Musée des Beaux-Arts de Reims: A fine-arts museum offering a cultural complement to the city's architectural heritage.

The Reims Cryptoporticus 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:

Access can vary

Price:

Free.

Address: Cryptoportique, Place du Forum, Reims, France
Reims: 0 km

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