Sundial

The sundial of Rue Chanzy, a hidden curiosity of Reims

On Rue Chanzy, you only need to look up to the top of a house to spot an astonishing head wearing a hat, evoking a magician. Below it, a hand and a dove complete the scene: it is in fact a sundial. The Reims audio-guided tour is fond of these details you only see when looking for them, turning a simple street into a cabinet of curiosities.

Telling the time by the sun

The sundial is an ancient instrument that tells the time through the shadow cast by the sun. In Reims, several of these dials punctuate the public space, witnesses to a time when people read the hour in the sky. The one on Rue Chanzy, with its enigmatic figure, is among the most surprising: it reminds us that the city holds, above hurried glances, a host of carved details.

What to see

The interest lies in the carved scene itself: the hatted head, the hand and the dove, which intrigue and amuse attentive passers-by. It is a chance to explore Rue Chanzy and the sundials area, where other surprises await the curious eye. A light, playful stop that invites you to look at Reims differently, by raising your head towards the façades.

Practical information

The sundial is seen from Rue Chanzy, in the centre of Reims, freely reachable on foot at any time. It is a façade detail observed from the public space, with no ticket office: just remember to look up to the top of the building. The area, central and flat, is easily explored on foot.

Where can you see the sundial in Reims?

It is on a façade of Rue Chanzy, in the centre: look up to the top of the building to spot the hatted head, the hand and the dove.

What is a sundial for?

It is an instrument that tells the time through the shadow cast by the sun; Reims has several, visible in the public space.