| REIMS | Unofficial capital of the Champagne winegrowing region in France, site of the baptism of Clovis and the traditional coronation place of French kings (5) |
| LEMANS | City in France, site of a 24-hour endurance race (2,4) |
| PIERO | "The Baptism of Christ" painter ___ della Francesca |
| VERDUN | City in the Meuse department of northeastern France, site of the longest and largest battle of the First World War (6) |
| AMIENS | City of N France, site of the country's largest cathedral |
| CLUJ | Unofficial capital of Transylvania and second most populous city in Romania (4) |
| WALLA | *With 37-Across, unofficial capital of Washington wine country |
| RHONEALPES | Region of France, site of Chambery (once the capital of the Dukedom of Savoie), Lyon (food capital o |
| TROYES | French town in northeastern France that was the historical capital of the Champagne region (6) |
| EPERNAY | Town on the bank of the River Marne in France that is a centre of the champagne industry (7) |
| VERSAILLES | Capital of the Yvelines department in northern France; site of a royal palace built for Louis XIV c. 1661-1678 (10) |
| CLUNY | Town in central France, site of a Benedictine Abbey founded in 910 (5) |
| ARMENTIERES | Commune in Nord, N France; site of a 1914 battle in World War One |
| LOIRETCHAR | Blois is the capital of this department in Centre region in France (4-2-4) |
| SOISSONS | Town in Picardy, captured by the king of the Franks, Clovis I, in 486 (8) |
| SEDAN | Commune in Ardennes, NE France, site of a 1940 World War II battle (5) |
| LILLE | Capital of the Hauts-de-France region in France (5) |
| DEPARTMENT | Part of a region in France or the part of a government that produces red tape |
| GRAVES | Wine district on the left bank of the Bordeaux wine region in France (6) |
| DII | Year in the reign of Clovis I |
