View of the cathedral

The viewpoint over Reims Cathedral, facing the Gothic masterpiece

From here, the west façade of Notre-Dame Cathedral of Reims unfolds in all its splendour, revealing the finesse of its Gothic architecture. This viewpoint is the perfect spot to take in at a glance one of the greatest monuments in France. The Reims audio-guided tour pauses here to let the stone and the thousands of carved details of this marvel speak.

A roof structure reborn from the ashes of war

The distance offered by this viewpoint lets you measure the scale of the building, whose roof structure was entirely rebuilt after the Great War. Its reconstruction was supported by major American families, among them the Fords, the Carnegies and the Rockefellers. It was chief architect Henri Deneux who led this exceptional project, designing a modern roof structure to bring the wounded monument back to life.

What to see

From this viewpoint, you admire the façade with its richly carved portals, the great rose window and the towers soaring towards the sky. The distance is ideal to grasp the proportions and the profusion of statues covering the building. It is also the best place to photograph the cathedral as a whole, before approaching to examine its sculptures in detail.

Practical information

This viewpoint lies on the forecourt and surroundings of the cathedral, right in the centre of Reims, freely reachable on foot, with no ticket office. The esplanade is flat and accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. The late-day light, which gilds the west façade, often offers the finest conditions to admire and photograph the monument.

Where can you admire the façade of Reims Cathedral?

From the forecourt and the western surroundings of the cathedral, which offer the distance needed to take in the façade, its carved portals, its rose window and its towers.

Why was the cathedral's roof structure rebuilt?

Because the building was severely damaged during the Great War; the roof structure was rebuilt under Henri Deneux, with support from American families such as the Fords, Carnegies and Rockefellers.