The Champagne region of France is less than 100 miles outside of Paris and is made up of the Aube, Marne, Haute-Marne, and Ardennes departments. It is easily accessible by car or train. There is a small airport at Reims (Reims-Champagne Airport) and Troyes, and both cities have rail access.
Track UNESCO World Heritage Sites? 800-year-old Cathedral of Notre-Dame and Palace of Tau, the basilica and former Abbey of Saint-Rémi, Saint-Nicaise Hill and the Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars are all noted, as they were a big part of the history of France.
There are many guided tours and tastings available in the Champagne region.
The Vineyards of Champagne
If you drive through Champagne from the north (Belgium) you'll be amazed at the lack of vineyards. The Ardennes consist of mostly farmland. The main vineyard areas are shown in purple on the map with the largest concentration--the Marne Valley, the Mountain of Reims, and the Cote de Blancs--around Reims and Epernay.
The the vines of Champagne take root in a great layer of chalk under a thin layer of fertilized soil. The Champenois vineyards are planted only with Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay by law. It wasn't until the late 17th century that the tart wines of Champagne became sparkling wines.
To find out how the region is uniquely formed to be perfect for champagne, head over to Pressoria, and take The Sensory Journey and the Tasting. It's in Aÿ-Champagne.
How do you find artisanal champagne? Look for a bottle marked “R.M.” (Recoltant-Manipulant) or “S.R.” (Societé-Manipulant). Those initials signify that the grower vinifies, bottles, and markets Champagne from grapes he grows.
Within Champagne, there are several major growing areas, all known for particular grapes. The major areas from north to south are Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs and Côte de Sézanne and Aube. For sparkling wine to be classified Champagne, the grapes must be grown in the region, and the wine must be produced in a specific way. The process, known as the méthode Champenoise, is also referred to as the traditional method. --A Beginner’s Guide to Champagne
Champagne City Map & Wine Regions
When to go to Champagne
Wine lovers will choose the fall, when the harvest festivals occur and the temperatures have moderated, although summer temperatures in Reims aren't usually very hot. For climate charts and current weather in Riems, click the button below.
Riems, France Travel Weather and climate
Major Towns Along the Champagne Route
Sedan has the largest chateau Fort in Europe. It's worth a visit. There is a Medieval festival the third weekend in May.
Reims is the capital of the region, and you'll find many opportunities to taste champagne here, as well as visit the renowned Notre-Dame Cathedral with its circular stained glass window, called a rose window, and the 1974 set of stained glass windows by Marc Chagall There is also an automobile museum. The Palais du Tau held the first recorded coronation banquet and you can get tickets online to visit. Riems is a great place to stay for a few days.
There are 12 champagne houses in Reims that you may visit. Rue des Vignerons offers a list and map.
My favorite Champagne is Veuve Clicquot, produced at 1 Rue Albert Thomas. It is second largest in production of Champagne. Here are the cost of tastings and the like.
Reims is accessible from the A4-E50 (Paris-Strasbourgh), the A34 (Ardennes - Belgium) tollway, and the A26 - E17 (Calais - Troyes - Dijon - Lyon) highways. There are several trains daily from the Paris Gare de l'Est Station (1 1/2 hours). The trip takes around an hour. The Riems tourist information center is near the cathedral at 2 Rue Guillaume de Machault.
How to Travel from Paris to Reims
Troyes is one of my favorite cities in the south of the region of Champagne. Troyes' old quarter, with well-preserved and sometimes slanting 16th-century half-timbered houses lining the pedestrian streets, is quite charming, and the restaurants and bars offer a good value in this rather expensive region.
How to Travel from Paris to Troyes
Lodging in the Champagne Region
For lodging in
Reims, see the user-rated Reims Hotels. Highly rated is Le Nid del Halles
In Troyes, long ago, we spent a few days at the 16th century Hotel Les Comtes de Champagne, a two star hotel in the old quarter that offered good value and aging, settled floors so that you could walk like a drunken sailor even when sober. It's been bought and renewed now, but reviewers call it "quirky and comfortable" and I liked it a lot.
If you're driving to Troyes, you might appreciate the apartment called Le Cocon Troyen, which is in town and has free parking for your vehicle.
