The best traffic-free bike rides around Bétheniville

The sight of hundreds of war graves is moving, but it also inspires confidence in a Europe that has learned from the tragedies of its history.

The cycle path offers the possibility to park outside and cycle into the city in a relaxed manner.

The abbey served as the guardian of the Holy Ampulla (Sainte Ampoule) used in the coronation ceremonies of French kings, and Reims was known as Durocortorum when it served as the capital of the Roman province of Belgica.

The Saint-Remi Museum in Reims is housed in a former Benedictine abbey that was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 and officially became a museum in 1978. The museum covers the period from Prehistory to the Renaissance (around 1530) and features regional archaeology collections, classical antiquities, and an extensive military history section

Inaugurated in 1996, on the occasion of the 15th centenary of the baptism of Clovis by Saint Remi and the visit of Pope John Paul II to Reims, this imposing statue offered by the Roederer champagne house was created by the Dutch artist Daphné du Barry.

During the First World War, Beine-Nauroy was severely affected by the fighting on the Western Front. The nearby village of Nauroy was completely destroyed by bombardments and was not rebuilt after the war. In 1950, the name of Nauroy was officially added to Beine, creating the municipality of Beine-Nauroy. The region was a strategic point in the battle between French and German troops, with fierce fighting around Mont Cornillet, an important defensive position. Today, a war chapel and a monument made of shrapnel recall the destruction and loss that the war brought. The church is from the 12th/13th century.

Nestled in the fields and forests east of Reims, La Noue Herbeuse is a seemingly peaceful place with a troubled past. In July 1918, this area formed part of the front during the Second Battle of the Marne, where French and Allied troops put up fierce resistance against the last major German offensive. Today, it is a quiet, unassuming place – but if you look closely, you can feel history under your feet. A place for reflection, in the middle of a landscape that was once a front line.

Fort de la Pompelle – Shield of Reims Built between 1880 and 1883 as part of the defensive belt around Reims, this fort saw fierce fighting during the First World War. After a brief German occupation in September 1914, it was retaken by French troops and played a key role in the defence of the city. More than 180 regiments, including Russian brigades, defended the fort against repeated attacks, including a tank battle in June 1918. Today, the fort houses a museum with unique collections, including an impressive array of German helmets and soldiers’ personal items – a tangible reminder of the horror and courage of the Great War.