The Pommery Champagne cellars in Reims are among the most architecturally spectacular of any Grand Champagne house, housed partly in a Victorian neo-Elizabethan estate building and partly in an extraordinary network of chalk tunnels that reach 30 metres below the city in France's Grand Est. The cellars were developed in the 1860s by Madame Louise Pommery, who connected 120 Roman chalk quarries (crayères) with excavated galleries into a single coherent production and storage network covering 18 km of tunnels maintained at a constant 10°C. The tour descends 116 steps into the crayères and passes through galleries decorated with monumental bas-relief sculptures commissioned by Madame Pommery in the 1880s and 1890s, carved directly into the chalk faces. These sculptures — depicting allegorical scenes and wine-related imagery — make the Pommery tour arguably the most aesthetically distinctive underground experience in the Champagne region. The tour concludes with a seated tasting of two or three cuvées at a purpose-built tasting room in the chalk. Tours run daily and must be pre-booked at pommery.com; prices range from €25 for a standard tour with two cuvées to €55 for premium tasting packages including prestige wines. Combine with Taittinger cellars (2 km away) for a comprehensive champagne-house day in Reims.
Good to know
- Hours
- Daily 10:00–17:00; closed Christmas period
- Best time
- Weekday morning for smaller groups
Location
5 place du Général Gouraud, 51100 Reims
49.2458, 4.0422 View on map
Highlights
- 30-metre-deep Roman chalk crayères network — 18 km of galleries beneath the Pommery estate
- Monumental 19th-century bas-relief sculptures carved directly into the chalk gallery walls
- Victorian neo-Elizabethan estate building by Madame Pommery above ground
- Seated champagne tasting in the chalk cellars at the conclusion of the guided tour
- The most architecturally distinctive cellar experience among the Reims Champagne houses
Tips for visiting
- Pre-book at pommery.com — walk-in availability is unreliable, especially in summer and at weekends
- The cellars are 10°C year-round; a jacket or light fleece is essential regardless of outdoor temperature
- The 116-step descent and ascent are the only strenuous parts; the chalk galleries themselves are level
- Combine with Taittinger (2 km) for a full champagne-house day in Reims
- Premium packages (€45–€55) include prestige cuvées and are worthwhile for serious champagne enthusiasts
When to visit
Weekday mornings for the smallest tour groups. September and October during harvest add seasonal context, though advance booking is essential at this time of year.
Accessibility
The 116-step descent and chalk gallery passages are not wheelchair-accessible; visitors with significant mobility limitations will find the tour physically challenging. Pommery's website provides current accessibility information and alternative reception options.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does the tour take?
Allow 1 hour for the standard tour including the cellar tasting at the end.
What makes Pommery's cellars distinctive?
The 19th-century sculptural bas-reliefs carved into the chalk gallery walls are unique among Reims Champagne houses.
Are the cellars accessible by wheelchair?
The 116-step descent and chalk gallery passages are not wheelchair-accessible. Contact Pommery in advance to discuss any available alternative arrangements.