Champagne is more than a succession of vineyards: chalk shapes the soil, the architecture and a remarkable world underground. UNESCO describes the hillsides of Champagne, its houses and cellars as an agro-industrial cultural landscape on soft, chalk-rich soil. The vineyards provide the basis for production; villages and towns are centres of production and trade. In this picture, landscape and work belong together. The production system also combines functional urban planning with representative architecture and an underground heritage.
Chalk, cellars and winegrowing
The chalk-rich subsoil is easy to excavate and is reflected in the local architecture. In Reims, former Gallo-Roman and medieval chalk quarries, together with caves near Épernay and on the hillsides, form an extraordinary underground landscape. Beneath Saint-Nicaise Hill in Reims lies a network of caves and tunnels in medieval chalk quarries. The cellars beneath Avenue de Champagne in Épernay hold more than two million bottles. Together, these examples show how closely geology, construction and wine production are connected.
A long winemaking tradition
The historic hillsides of Hautvillers, AĂż and Mareuil-sur-AĂż have continuously exported wine for at least four centuries. Hautvillers is considered the birthplace of Champagne and is closely associated with Dom PĂ©rignon. At the end of summer, grapes are harvested by hand at the estates; at the same time, the estates offer insights into the winemaking process. This seasonal perspective takes you from the landscape to the steps behind the wine. In AĂż, Pressoria offers an immersive sensory experience. If you are planning a visit, check the current programme.
Routes and changing landscapes
The Champagne landscape shifts between forests, vineyards, plains, villages, towns, lakes and rivers. This means the region cannot be reduced to a single perspective on wine. Five marked tourist routes cover a total of more than 600 kilometres. One of them, the tourist route through the Marne Valley, runs from Épernay in the east to beyond Château-Thierry in the west. The total distance describes the network of routes; the stretch through the Marne Valley provides a specific east–west direction. Before your trip, check the information for each route, as it may change.
The Bulles rail line between Reims and Épernay passes through the Montagne de Reims and stops in villages along the way. If you are planning to travel by train, check the timetable and stops in advance. This allows you to complement the tourist routes with a specific connection between two towns, without confusing the two options.
Towns, remembrance and regional specialities
In Châlons-en-Champagne, the collegiate church of Notre-Dame-en-Vaux, the Château du Marché and stone bridges are part of the historic heritage. A different perspective is offered by the Memorial to the Battles of the Marne in Dormans: the memorial site includes an ossuary containing the remains of around a thousand soldiers. Here, architecture and urban history stand alongside a place of remembrance. Near Lac du Der, the Village Musée du Der preserves the history of the inhabitants, villages and local heritage from before the lake was flooded.
Regional specialities are also part of the journey of discovery: pink biscuits from Reims are traditionally eaten with Champagne or dipped in Bouzy wine. Chocolates shaped like Champagne corks are filled with fine Champagne liqueur. These traditions add a distinctive note alongside the vineyards, architecture and cultural heritage.
Discover more destinations: Ardennes, Aube, Haute-Marne, Marne, Limousin, Provence-Alpes-CĂ´te D'azur, Saint Pierre, Corsica.
Go to the main travel overview: France.
