DAY 19 - REIMS - Rest Day (Friday 5 May)

We had another lazy rest day, this time spent pottering around Reims. We first sauntered down to the Basilique St-Rémi. This is an impressive old church which was built to house the relics of Saint Rémi. There is a statue outside the church depicting St Rémi baptising Clovis, King of the Franks, in the early 6th century.  

Early morning view from our accommodation - sunrise by Reims cathedral 

Basilique St- Rémi

Our next stop was the Pommery champagne winery, where we had a guided tour of the cellars. We were informed about the champagne-making process,  and the history of Pommery. We enjoyed the tour, and the glass of champagne at the end of it. 

Entering the Pommery estate

There was a bench out the front. There have been many occasions on our walk so far when we have appreciated a well-placed bench.

This one wasn't that easy to use though

We spent some time in the enormous visitors' reception room

And then went down 30 metres to the chalk cellars for the tour

After the tour, the tasting 

Not going back to the bar for another, just returning the empty glasses

We wandered back to our accommodation for the traditional rest-day rest, stopping at a restaurant for lunch on the way. 

La Fontaine restaurant - simple menu of home made food, friendly owner, great atmosphere, satisfied customers 

For our afternoon outing we went to the Surrender Museum, set in the building where General Eisenhower had his headquarters in 1945. The German unconditional surrender to mark the end of World War II in Europe was signed in the War Room, which has been maintained as a museum since the end of the war.

Germany's unconditional surrender document

The Allied Headquarters war room - site of the signing of Germany's surrender, now preserved as a museum

Some other exhibits at the Surrender Museum in Reims

From the museum we strolled back to our accommodation for a self-catered dinner, seeing some more sights on the way. 

The Boulingrin covered market has an organic market on Fridays

Some sights on the way back to our apartment

Like many French towns, Reims remembers the victims of the Nazi occupation in World War II

We have enjoyed our break in Reims, and are looking forward to resuming our walk tomorrow. 

Day 19 - Healthy Fruit

Day 19 - Birds. Slim pickings today.  Just a wood pigeon and a blackbird. It wasn't really a bird day. We'll see if we can do better tomorrow. 

Day:  19

Distance: 0 km

Walking time:  0 hrs 0 mins

Elevation gain: 0 metres

Cumulative distance:  417.93 km