Colbert Square

Square Colbert, an English-style garden facing Reims station

Between the station and Place Drouet d'Erlon, Square Colbert offers a green interlude in the heart of Reims. This small English-style garden, flowered and planted with trees, welcomes strollers as soon as they leave the train. The Reims audio-guided tour pauses here to evoke a famous minister and the art of nineteenth-century urban gardens.

Named after a minister of Louis XIV

The square bears the name of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, one of the leading ministers of Louis XIV, a major player in the economic development of France in the seventeenth century. His statue, made by Eugène Guillaume in 1860, stands at the centre of the garden. The square itself was laid out in 1828, then landscaped in the English style some thirty years later by Louis Sulpice Var, in the picturesque taste of the time.

What to see

The square appeals through its English-garden atmosphere: winding paths, lawns, trees and flowered beds, around the statue of Colbert. Ideally placed facing the station, it offers a first green breath on arrival in Reims, before reaching the centre. It is a place enjoyed by families and travellers for a quiet break, a few steps from the bustle of Place Drouet d'Erlon.

Practical information

Square Colbert lies facing Reims station, near Place Drouet d'Erlon, reachable on foot. It is a public garden, freely accessible during the city's park opening hours, which may vary with the season. Flat and laid out, the main path suits pushchairs and visitors with reduced mobility.

Who was Colbert, who gave his name to the square?

Jean-Baptiste Colbert was one of the leading ministers of Louis XIV, very active in the economic development of France in the seventeenth century; his statue adorns the centre of the square.

Where is Square Colbert?

It is located facing Reims station, between it and Place Drouet d'Erlon, making it a first green stop on arrival in the city.