The University of Reims first opened in 1548, but was closed in 1793 during France’s revolution against the monarchy. It remained shut for over two and a half centuries, reopening in the 1960s. It is now a public university with over 25,000 students in attendance and over 2,500 staff.
The university’s courses are divided into five areas: arts; languages; humanities and social sciences; law, economics and management; science, technology, health and sports science. Its main campus is in Reims, but there are others in Troyes, Charleville-Mézières, Châlons en Champagne and Chaumont
Reims is a city in the northern Île-de-France region of France, about 80 miles from Paris. The university has recently formed a cluster with several other institutions in the same region, including Picardie and Walloon universities in a move to drive up its international connections.
There is plenty to see in Reims, including the Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, its current incarnation was built in the 13th century. Notre-Dame de Reims was the former coronation spot for French kings.
Also worth paying a visit to is the Mars Gate, which dates back to the Gallo-Roman era (3rd or 4th century). The university is based in the Champagne region and many world famous wineries are nearby, including Veuve Cliquot and Tattinger.
The city is not too big and is easily traversable. However, it has a large enough population that there is a relatively active cultural life with theatres, live music venues and museums to visit. Each year it hosts the Noces Felines music festival at the Palace of Tau, the former home of the Archbishop of Reims.
