Longing for a change of scenery, without going too far? A few hours' drive away, Champagne gathers everything needed for an exceptional weekend: great houses, century-old cellars, a royal cathedral and fine tables.

The Great Houses

Moët & ChandonÉpernay · tradition and history

The underground cellars stretch for twenty-eight kilometres, carved into the white chalk, and carry on a legacy dating back to 1743. Guardians of a real treasure, they reveal, through guided tours and tastings, the craftsmanship behind these exceptional wines.

Boisselle & FilsVille-Dommange · a family story

Near Reims, this family operation has tended the vines for five generations. The winemakers carry on winemaking traditions passed from one generation to the next, for cuvées crafted with care.

MummReims · the iconic red cord

Recognisable by its white label and its red cord, Mumm offers the "Cordon Rouge Experience", an olfactory exploration of champagne's composition. The visit gives access to a museum devoted to the house's history and to a tasting of several cuvées.

RuinartReims · a French art of living

The oldest champagne house in France, Ruinart, in Reims, offers comprehensive visits, including a virtual exploration of the cellars, and tastings. The house also presents artistic installations questioning the impact of climate change on the region.

Rows of champagne bottles aging in a cellar
The slow work of ageing, in the chalk
Beyond the Bubbles

The Cathedral of Reims

Famous for its imposing sculptures and statues, the cathedral of Reims was the coronation site of the kings of France. Larger than Notre-Dame de Paris, it unfolds the whole of Gothic art in its façade, its stained glass and its countless sculptures.

Troyes, the City of a Thousand Colours

Troyes preserves a rich architectural heritage: brightly coloured medieval and Renaissance half-timbered houses compose a picturesque, singular setting. The city is also home to many factory outlets of major brands.

Where to Stay

Royal Champagne Hôtel & SpaChampillon

A luxury property that marries the region's charm with contemporary comfort: hammam, sauna, whirlpool, yoga studio, pools, and a Michelin-starred table overlooking the vines.

Champagne bottles on cellar racks
Six hundred champagnes on the list, at Les Crayères

Domaine Les CrayèresReims

Decorated in the classic French style, this château-hotel in Reims offers two-star gastronomic cuisine and six hundred champagnes on the list, a retreat of great elegance.

La Villa EugèneÉpernay

On the Avenue de Champagne, this refined hotel offers traditional architecture, a heated outdoor pool and the proximity of good local tables, for an authentic regional experience.

Champagne is best visited the way one opens a fine bottle: at the right moment, among those in the know. We open the doors of the houses and book the tables; you have only to raise your glass.

Dreaming of a weekend in Champagne, between the great houses and private tastings? Let's talk it through with our specialists.

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