Architecture

Les Crayères

Reims

Les Crayères is a château at Domaine Les Crayères on Boulevard Henri-Vasnier in Reims. It was designed by architect Théodore Dauphin and built in pure Mansart style, with inauguration in 1904. The château stands on the colline Saint-Nicaise, a UNESCO World Heritage site, within a classified park designed by Edouard André and Edouard Redont. Its elevated setting offers views over the city, including the Basilique Saint-Remi, the Cathédrale, and Montagne de Reims.

The domain began with landscape work in 1889 for Jeanne Alexandrine Pommery’s park at Maison de champagne Pommery, with plans for both a park and a château. The park was completed before the château. The building was ordered by Louise Pommery and constructed between 1908 and 1910. During World War I, the château and garden were damaged; they were restored and reconstructed by Edouard Redon, including identical reconstruction of the garden in 1920. The estate later passed to Xavier Gardinier and his group in 1979 and was transformed into a place dedicated to lifestyle and gastronomy.

Map showing the location of Les Crayères in Reims
Location of Les Crayères in Reims

Nearby Objects

Chateau on the Saint-Nicaise Hill

Le Domaine Les Crayeres was designed by architect Theodore Dauphin (1849-1917) on Boulevard Henri-Vasnier. It is situated on the colline Saint-Nicaise, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and set within a classified park designed by Edouard Andre and Edouard Redont. The chateau was built at Madame Pommery's initiative for her daughter, the Marquise de Polignac. Completed in pure Mansart style and inaugurated in 1904, it also offers views over the city, including Basilique Saint-Remi, the Cathedral, and Montagne de Reims.

The Park and Chateau Project

Landscape work for Jeanne Alexandrine Pommery's park at the Maison de champagne Pommery began in 1889. The project was linked to architect Edouard Andre, and the park was described as including all the characteristics of garden art as designed by him. The original plan called for both a park and a chateau at the domain, but the park was completed first. Jeanne Alexandrine Pommery died before seeing the order finished. Later, Louise Pommery commissioned architect Theodore Dauphin to build the chateau between 1908 and 1910. Dauphin designed it in pure Mansart classicism.

War Damage and Restoration

Les Crayeres was occupied by Marie Charles Jean Melchior de Polignac, Jeanne Pommery's grandson, from 1910 to 1940. During World War I, the chateau suffered damage, and its garden was also damaged. The park housed a French gunboat protecting the entrance to Reims during the war. After the conflict, architect Edouard Redon restored the chateau and carried out an identical reconstruction of the garden in 1920. During World War II, British forces were lodged in the park, with around eighty soldiers accommodated in thirty places.

From Private Estate to Culinary Destination

In 1979, the estate was transferred to Xavier Gardinier and his group, and the Gardinier family occupied it until 1983. During this period, the château was transformed into a place dedicated to lifestyle and gastronomy, with guests invited to discover terroirs and Champagne brands such as Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, Ruinart, and Pommery. In 1983, paneled lounges were opened at Domaine Les Crayeres under architect Pierre-Yves Rochon. The site developed a strong restaurant identity under the ownership of the BSN group, when chefs Gaston Boyer and Gerard Boyer led the restaurant to three Michelin stars.

After 18 years with BSN, the property returned to the Gardinier family in 2001. The years that followed brought further changes in ownership and kitchen leadership in 2003, after which the restaurant lost one Michelin star the following year. Didier Elena, from Ducasse's team, was then appointed head chef, and Philippe Mille became chef in 2009. That same year, Brasserie Le Jardin opened in the former château stables, accessed via avenue du General-Giraud.

Later, Christophe Moret joined as chef, and the Domaine Les Crayeres restaurant has maintained two Michelin stars under his direction. The property now includes the Parc restaurant, which serves cuisine blending French tradition and contemporary influences with seasonal local products and a focus on vegetal ingredients, as well as Brasserie Le Jardin, which offers generous and spontaneous bistronomic cuisine and has received the Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide. Domaine Les Crayeres is described as featuring a century-old park and a classical style château, and it remains a notable culinary and hotel experience in the Champagne region.

Events at Domaine Les Crayeres

Domaine Les Crayeres is used as a venue for several recurring public events organized by Evnementiels. Since 2010, Le Marche des Producteurs has been held there annually in late September. The event brings together nearly forty local producers in the gardens of Domaine Les Crayeres for a festive weekend, with cheeses, charcuteries, wines, honey, fruits, and vegetables offered to attract more than 6,000 visitors each year.

Another major event is La Soiree Blanche, organized since 2011 during the summer season. It takes place in the Chateau park and welcomes more than 3,000 guests annually. The event includes musical animations and light shows, making it one of the site’s recurring cultural gatherings.

Domaine Les Crayeres also hosts Octobre Rose, an annual charitable dinner. For this event, Evnementiels works with five renowned female winemakers to support the fight against breast cancer. All profits from the dinner are donated to Institut Godinot for medical research and support.

Architecture and Estate Layout

Les Crayeres follows a systemic U-shaped plan, with a major wing framed by two long lateral projections. The building is constructed in ashlar stone and has two floors plus an attic floor, covered in slate and zinc. On the garden side, a large terrace is framed by two wrought iron verandas. The estate also includes an English park, which is concealed by a high wall surrounding the entire property.