Reims By Night: A Review of the Guided Tour
Visiting Reims, France is more than just popping corks, it is, really, about absorbing a ton of history and seeing seriously awesome architecture. That said, seeing it during the day is one thing, but what about seeing it all lit up after dark? I thought, I mean, what a cool idea. So, I took a guided nighttime stroll and figured I’d tell you all about it, just so you know what you might be getting yourself into.
What to Expect on the Reims Guided Tour By Night
OK, right away, you probably want to know what this excursion actually involves. These nighttime tours often begin around dusk, at a time when the sky puts on some fantastic shows. What you will see is historic sites, but illuminated. Groups typically gather at a central meeting place, usually near a main attraction, almost always at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims. It’s usually easy to spot guides holding signs. Expect to spend about two or three hours wandering around, depending on the route and what the local experts wants to talk about. This is more than seeing glowing buildings. This tour is almost like a walking history lesson.
Our person leading us had, as a matter of fact, an infectious passion and clearly dropped a ton of factoids about the history, legends, and maybe some sneaky stories of Reims. He spoke a great deal about past coronations. Also about times when there were major celebrations that, in a way, really brought it all to life. It wasn’t all scripted history; so too were there moments of humor, and personal experiences really made it more intimate and memorable.
Highlights of the Night Tour
Let’s talk specifics, what spots are must-sees when everything’s beautifully lit? First, absolutely, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims. At night, the architectural details become more dramatic because the lighting highlights the sculptures and spires. The whole experience is definitely majestic and serene, you see, offering different perspectives than you would in broad daylight.
Next up, there are the ancient Roman ruins; parts of Reims date back that far. The remnants, such as the Mars Gate, are pretty impressive to see when they’re basking under lights. I recall our leader spending some time sharing cool tidbits about the city’s Roman beginnings that really offered insight. Beyond just looking pretty, walking through these sites sort of makes you think about what life was like centuries ago. Pretty cool, I’d say!
Then there are the parks and squares; places such as the Place Royale that is like a peaceful bubble in what you imagine is the bustle of the normal day. Night can bring another type of charm. Fountains, statues and well-maintained landscaping are brought out and look extra fancy, when illuminated. Plus, the cooler evening temperatures make it a lovely and, honestly, comfortable place to linger and absorb the views.
The Guide Makes or Breaks It
The star is obviously Reims and seeing it change as dusk comes, but a guide makes a tour great, that’s just a fact. The tour’s heart is found in a well-informed and super charismatic local. These locals bring so much life. They share lesser-known stuff such as anecdotes and personal experiences. What makes one guide special? Their passion is obvious for history. That passion will get you to the tour. It’ll hold you for the tour, and honestly, you’ll never know more or have thought you’d cared about that topic more until they got you with that passion.
Ask a lot of questions because they love to get those. Great people can keep you entertained. If you are someone who gets easily bored, finding the right guide makes the night worthwhile. A good indicator is reviews on websites such as TripAdvisor, Culture Trip and blogs dedicated to excursions and cultural adventures. Positive reviews praising the guide is very telling. Keep your group small; it offers better interaction. Getting insight during your Reims by Night excursion comes easier when the group size is smaller.
Photography at Night
Listen, any picture of Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims has a good starting point. What can you do to up your Instagram or Facebook with awesome shots? Night photography calls for a slightly approach, and so packing the correct equipment could be important.
Get this; if you want images that show you took time with your image, then, yes, take your digital SLR or mirrorless camera with various lenses. You will want a wide angle that gets landscapes and another with a wide range zoom, since you might like close-ups. If you love shooting night tours, you need to purchase one of these cameras because they simply offer features to take more stable and high-definition shots.
Using smartphone cameras, in a way, works fine, just remember how the camera actually processes images when light levels start to fade. Learn the Night Mode settings to prevent those over-blasted images with way too much light sensitivity. That means holding your camera still while taking the shot and turning on Night Mode that automatically tells the camera to open the lens to its maximum to let light rush in as fast as possible to register objects at lower levels.
Make sure that your camera setting that’s marked “ISO” stays super low. This helps keep the image as natural as possible by getting rid of too much sensitivity to the already challenged light that you’re capturing. By keeping that number as low as possible when on your tour, it just could get you to that image everyone loves.
Is the Reims Guided Tour By Night Worth It?
Okay, now the big question. Is ponying up worth spending the time or cash for one of these trips around Reims? For some, it is. For some, it could really seem tedious. A nighttime jaunt is an appealing choice if you love delving into historical tales and soaking in spectacular views but from different viewpoints that, in a way, really add spice to the Reims tourist appeal.
Ask this: do you even dig history? Is your brain constantly wondering what all those monuments are? Then sure, sign up, but know what you’re looking for. Seeing historic landmarks glowing is quite cool. In fact, wandering without people clogging every inch can really turn an ordinary outing to magical in seconds. All those who are into photography might seriously groove to snapping at night for that look you only find when that sun sits behind the globe.
A word of caution: think of what the weather will look like before setting the plans for spending some time. It might just stink if its raining sideways or too bone-chilling to get a look and, I mean, enjoy a jaunt at the sites. These companies tend to have very set rules. Maybe they will offer some back credits? Don’t expect immediate refunds from places like that, if something goes off the tracks during the tour. Getting travel insurance might assist, and for that just research who could step up if there are bad circumstances during that walk.