Marne is an authentic and sparkling land with a prominent agricultural industry (farms cover 60 per cent of the department's territory) and an incredible natural environment that includes plains, forests, and vineyards. The Olympic Torch Relay for this stage will start in Vitry-le-François, which previously rolled out the red carpet for the Olympic torch ahead of the 1968 Winter Olympic Games in Grenoble.

From there, it will advance to Giffaumont-Champaubert on the banks of Lake Der, the largest artificial lake in France at 48 km². The next stop will be Châlons-en-Champagne, where the torch will help promote the National Circus Arts Centre. It will then head to Sainte-Menehould and Épernay, where it will run down the prestigious Avenue de Champagne on its way to Sézanne, a charming medieval town. The rest of the festivities will take place in Reims, the biggest city in the department.

Celebrations in Reims

Located 45 minutes from Paris, Reims lies at the crossroads of cultural, sporting, and university life. Its rich history is intertwined with that of the prestigious champagne producers who have flourished in the area. The Olympic torch will start its tour of the city in the Parc de Champagne, a verdant patch sprawling across more than 21 hectares in the south-eastern part of the city. Next, it will head to Saint Remigius's Basilica (a 126-metre-long masterpiece of Romanesque art) and the Auguste Delaune Stadium, home to one of the most famous football clubs in France: Stade de Reims.

The torch will zip past Le Manège, a cultural hotspot with a theatre and a permanent circus with a capacity of 800. After that, it will go to Notre-Dame Cathedral. From the 11th century onwards, French kings began to receive their coronation in the famous cathedral, which also spans the Palais du Tau: a royal residence next door to the cathedral. The torch will then advance to the Porte de Mars, a 32-metre-long and 12-metre-tall relic from the Roman era that has endured since the 3^rd century. The adjacent esplanade, the Square de la Porte de Mars, will host the celebrations at day's end, which will culminate in the lighting of the cauldron.

Celebration venue info

Come and celebrate the passing of the Olympic flame in Reims!

The celebration site is free and open to all from 3.30pm to 7.45pm at the following address: PORTE DE MARS, 51100 REIMS

A festive programme open to all awaits you, including :

• events organised by the local authorities: sport, music, shows, etc.
• stands run by the Relay of the Flame sponsors:
  • Coca-Cola will be providing a musical and festive atmosphere
  • Banque Populaire will be giving the public the chance to try out water sports
  • Caisse d'Epargne will be dedicating its stand to basketball and handball
• a show organised by the sponsors on the sports slab from 6 p.m.
• 7.20pm: the arrival of the last torchbearer and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, a moment not to be missed!

Note: a giant screen, a host and a DJ will also be on hand to get the public in the mood for the Torch Relay!