Avize combines a specific walk with art at Saint-Nicolas Church and insights into the town’s Champagne history. When choosing what to do during the day, the different formats of the activities are helpful: the PR134 Circuit d’Avize Village has a stated distance and duration, while a cellar tour at Champagne De Sousa requires an appointment. This makes it easier to decide whether to focus on the trail, the cultural heritage or a visit to a producer.
Along the PR134 through Avize
The PR134 Circuit d’Avize Village is a 4.3-kilometre loop, with a stated duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes. The designated starting points are Parc Vix and Place Léon-Bourgeois in Avize. The route connects woodland and vineyards, offering views of the wine-growing landscape and the village. It leads to Saint-Nicolas Church. So the focus is not just on the scenery: the trail also takes you to a specific cultural landmark in Avize. This is a helpful combination for anyone who would like to pair a walk with a look at architecture and art. Weather and maintenance may affect conditions; use the duration as a guide and check trail conditions before setting out.
Saint-Nicolas Church and a 17th-century painting
Inside Saint-Nicolas Church, you will find Gothic vaults, statues and stained-glass windows. One particular work of art adds a clearly identifiable historical note: “Le Denier de César” is in the church and dates from the first quarter of the 17th century. The painting is attributed to Orazio Borgiani and has been classified as a protected object since 25 July 2002. The church thus combines architectural details with a datable work of art—two perspectives on the same building. Access to the church interior may vary; check before visiting.
Champagne houses and different stories
Champagne De Sousa has been based in Avize for three generations. The house offers tours of its cellars or cellar areas by appointment. This requirement is key to planning: arrange your visit before travelling, rather than counting on it as an activity available at short notice. In practical terms, this makes the visit different from the walking trail, whose distance and duration help with time planning, whereas arranging an appointment is the priority for De Sousa.
At Champagne Lancelot Fils, the story goes back to the 1930s, when Jean Lancelot took up winegrowing after working as a distiller. The estate farms a 5.6-hectare vineyard across eight very different terroirs. Comparing it with De Sousa brings two aspects of local Champagne culture into focus: on the one hand, a presence rooted in Avize for three generations; on the other, a vineyard area described in specific terms and divided across eight terroirs. Anyone interested in provenance can explore both a historical shift towards winegrowing and the division of a vineyard into different terroirs.
Discover more destinations: Suippes, Bussy-Le-Château, Orconte, Bassuet, Cramant, Mutigny, Vert-Toulon, Le Breuil
For the wider travel overview: Marne.
