After the Meuse, the Olympic torch relay will head towards the Marne. This Sunday, June 30, Marne and its prefecture Reims will host the 45th stage after a final in Verdun the day before. There will be 108 of them carrying the flame during the day.
It will begin at 9 a.m. with a departure from Vitry-le-François in front of the Salamandre aquatic center. The flame will then pass in front of the Porte du Pont, classified as a historic monument in 1920, the Albert-Camus media library, the Town Hall, the François 1er promenade to arrive at 9:45 a.m. at the Place d’Armes and the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame De l ‘Assomption, the largest classical style church in the Marne department, whose construction in the 17th century required 125 years of work.
Then, the flame will take the direction of Giffaumont-Champaubert a you Lake Der. With its 4,800 ha and 77 km of shores (6 beaches, 3 marinas), this artificial lake is one of the largest in Europe. Around it, there are 100 km of greenways and 250 km of marked trails for hiking and cycling. At 10:25 am, the departure will be given from the Champaubert peninsula then the crossing will be made by Dragon Boat in front of the footbridge of the southern basin of Lac de Der. The arrival will be at the Marina at 10:55 am.
Direction ensuite Chalons Champagne for a long stage between 11:06 a.m. and 12:35 p.m. The flame will start from the Pierre-de-Coubertin sports palace, the CCRB basketball players’ hall (Champagne Châlons Reims Basket, Pro B), will pass in front of the Notre Dame-en-Vaux Collegiate Church, a Gothic style built from the 12th to the 15th century, the Le Verbeau district then reach the Grand Jard, a French garden designed in the 18th century that has become one of the favorite places for walks for the Châlonnais. From Saint-Etienne Cathedral, to the finish at Place Foch in front of the Town Hall, there will be the collective relay of the Adapted Sports Federation led by Thierry Washetine, 45 years old who has lived in Châlons since 2022. He is triple world champion in javelin throwing in adapted sport.
The next step will lead the flame for 20 minutes to Sainte-Menehould. She will leave at 1:20 p.m. from the Sainte-Menehould statue to arrive at 1:40 p.m. at the town hall. It will pass in front of the statue of Dom Pérignon, built in homage to this Benedictine monk, born in Sainte-Menehould on January 5, 1639 and who developed the method of champagnemaking wines.
The vineyards will also be in the spotlight Épernay with a departure at 3:19 p.m. from the Champagne vineyards. The arrival will take place at 4:23 p.m. at the town hall after passing in front of the Notre-Dame Church. After Épernay, the flame will make a short stop in Sézanne from 5:19 p.m. to 8:39 p.m., between the old college and the Caneton swimming pool.
Then it will be the final stage at Reims. The flame will leave at 5:57 p.m. from the Parc de Champagne then pass through the Saint-Remy basilica, the Léo-Lagrange park, the Auguste-Delaune stadium of the Reims footballers (L 1), the Patte d’Oie park, the Colbert square , Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was from the 11th century onwards, the place of the coronation of almost all of the coronations of the kings of France, the town hall, the Halles du Boulingrin. The lighting of the cauldron will take place at 7:30 p.m. Porte de Mars, a monument which is the largest arch in the Roman world. Activities are planned there from 3:30 p.m.
