Regions of France : Champagne-Ardennes

click to enlarge

Over the centuries, 25 kings of France chose to be crowned in the incomparable cathedral in Reims and the guests were naturally served champagne. Word spread in all languages that champagne was most definitely the drink to celebrate special occasions and toast good news.

Visitors are encouraged to follow La Route Touristique du Champagne to discover the main producers, but all roads seem to lead eventually to one producer or another.

Epernay and Reims bubble with champagne houses from the well known, such as Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin, Pommery and Mumm, to smaller but equally important independent producers. Epernay is the unofficial capital of champagne, understandable as it is home to the distinguished houses of Mercier, Pol Roger and Möet et Chandon.

Beneath the celebrated Avenue de Champagne lie a staggering 90 million bottles of champagne! Most of the champagne houses have tours of their caves and tastings.

The fortified towns of Langres, Troyes and Sedan (with its colossal medieval fortified château) have survived intact and clearly show how the Champagnois protected themselves against attack.

Puppet capital Charleville-Mézières has an annual festival as well as weekly demonstrations by the puppet institute in the elegant Place Ducale, modeled on Paris’s wonderful Place des Vosges.

A day in Champagne Over a glass of bubbly (...or two) spend today in the famous region of Champagne, with its magnificent vineyards, impressive heritage and world class champagnes. Explore the Moet and Chandon cellars in Epernay before indulging in a traditional lunch at a restaurant among the vineyards with a hilltop view. Also visit the Mumm Champagne House and Reims Cathedral Click here for more information and Booking Details »

Ardennes

• Puppet shows and bustling markets in elegant Charleville-Mézières
• Sedan’s fortified château is the largest medieval stronghold in Europe
• Unspoilt countryside and sweeping views across the Meuse valley

Aube

• Water sports galore in the Parc d’Orient with its 5,000 hectares of lakes
• Troyes annual champagne fair in June is known around the world
• France’s only half timbered churches and wonderful cheese of Chaource

Haute-Marne

• Chaumont has a world class collection of posters and graphic art and stunning statuary in the basilica
• Spa town Bourbonne les Bains has been popular since Roman times and still draws sufferers from rheumatism
• Hilltop and fortified, Langres is famous for its cheese while Rouvres is better known for its petrified waterfall

Marne

• Gothic splendour of the cathedral in Reims and medieval treasure in the museum next door
• Sleepy Epernay hides 90 million bottles of champagne below its streets
• Châlons en Champagne, where the Romans defeated Atilla the Hun has been important ever since

Reims

click to enlarge

Best Western Hôtel De La Paix   Located in the heart of the city, the hotel offers a refined atmosphere in a decor that subtly combines the charms of ancient times with modern design. Best Western Hôtel De La Paix was entirely renovated and features 169 soundproofed and air-conditioned rooms, a bar with a private terrace and a fully-equipped fitness centre. The hotel boasts an ideal location within a stone’s throw of the Cathedral of Reims, some of the most prestigious champagne houses of the area and the city centre.

Hotels Reims

Since the great psychiatrist Edouard Zarifian has co-authored a book on champagne (Bulle de champagne, with Catherine Coutant and Gérard Liger-Belair), shouldn't the social security reimburse any stay in Reims? Lovers of good fare will find many opportunities to indulge themselves here. Apart from champagne that can be tasted either in the cellars of the major establishments or at specialist wine retailers, the town has many quality restaurants and artisans.

A trip round the champagne cellars

Most of the major establishments are located in the Champs de Mars district (to the north) and on the chalky slopes of Butte St-Nicaise (to the south in the direction of Épernay).

Among them, the Elizabethan style buildings and 18 km of galleries at Pommery, the 15 million bottles at Taittinger, the Gallo-Roman chalk pits at Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin and the magnificent chalk pits at Ruinart, spread over three levels. Nor should Piper-Heidsieck and Mumm be forgotten.

After visiting these cellars, a glass of champagne awaits you! But you can always have a little tipple nearly anywhere in Reims.