Massif de Saint-Thierry
Vineyards and forests form a magnificent green landscape in the Massif de St-Thierry, surrounding like a jewel case villages intimately linked to the coronations of the kings of France. Leaving Reims at the Tinqueux exit, the route follows picturesque roads.
A little history…
Clovis donated the Massif de Saint-Thierry to Saint Remi on Christmas Eve 496, as a reward for his baptism. From then on, this region was intimately linked with the history of Reims and its coronations.
The Massif de Saint-Thierry bears witness to this past, combining nature and architectural gems…
The tour begins with a visit to Reims Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic art where three hundred kings of France have been crowned over the centuries. Here you can admire the famous statue of the Smiling Angel.
Nearby, the Palais du Tau houses the cathedral treasure and some of the original statuary… You’ll then head for Tinqueux, then Champigny, and it’s at Merfy that the vines appear…
Discover Saint-Thierry and its Abbey. The village grew up around the monastery founded in 500 AD by Saint Thierry, a disciple of Saint Remi. Take a look at the 12th-century community chapel, a former chapter house with beautifully carved capitals.
Once back in Reims, don’t miss a visit to the magnificent Saint-Remi Basilica and its museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside the cathedral and Palais du Tau.
You’ll also discover :
- the Villers-Franqueux mill
- Saint-Sauveur d’Hermonville church
- the “Grotte de la Vierge” at Montigny-sur-Vesle
- Pévy Romanesque church with Gothic choir
- the view from Trigny
- the Resistance monument on the outskirts of Chenay