In Buxeuil, Champagne cellars and whisky production meet a church with construction phases dating from the 13th to the 14th century. There is also an aire de camping-car on the Seine. This brings beverage production, architectural history and a stay by the water together as different ways to experience the village. Depending on your travel interests, you can focus on a cellar tour with tasting, the production of whisky and spirits, or the architecture and riverside setting.
Champagne and spirits from Buxeuil
Buxeuil is a traditional Champagne village in the heart of the Côte des Bar and a stop on the Route Touristique du Champagne. The Côte des Bar is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This setting suits the different beverage experiences available locally: at Champagne Gruet, a guided cellar tour combines the production stages with a tasting. The tour lasts an hour and a half and includes stops at the press, cellar and cuverie, as well as remuage and disgorgement. The tasting includes three Champagne cuvées. With its stated duration, the tour is a clearly defined block of time; check dates and availability before your trip.
Distillerie Moutard offers a different focus. In Buxeuil, it ferments a malt mash for its whisky and distils it in five traditional pot stills. Its range also includes dry gin and vodka, as well as Marc champenois and liqueurs. The local drinks scene thus ranges from Champagne to spirits and liqueurs. Gruet focuses on cellar stages and cuvées; Moutard is defined by whisky production and its other spirits. This makes the two experiences easy to distinguish, without combining them into a single tasting or tour.
Construction phases and details of the Eglise Saint-Loup
The Eglise Saint-Loup de Troyes in Buxeuil has several construction phases dating from the 13th to the 14th century. Its bell tower has a Romanesque appearance, with paired openings and a corbelled cornice with modillions. These features give the building a clear architectural character, while the different construction phases point to a longer historical period. Traces of wall paintings also survive, though they are faint and barely legible. The building’s form and the remnants of its paintings therefore tell the church’s story in different ways: the tower stands out for its described features, while the paintings are notable for traces that are now only faintly visible.
Motorhome pitches on the Seine
Motorhome travellers can use four free, shaded pitches at the aire de camping-car. Electricity and water are available, as is a waste-disposal facility; these services are chargeable. When planning your stay, bear in mind that the pitches are free but the services are not. The aire is on the Seine. Right by the water, there are two picnic tables and a bench, providing a designated place to take a break by the river. The aire closes seasonally, so check whether it is open during your travel dates.
Discover more destinations: Macey, Traînel, Troyes, Villenauxe-La-Grande, Montaulin, Buchères, Vougrey, Dolancourt.
For the overview of the wider area: Aube.
