France is synonymous with fine wines – Bordeaux and Burgundy rank as perhaps the world’s best – but when it comes to bubbles, Champagne eclipses all others. Naturally, one of the best things to do in Champagne is to tour myriad champagne houses and taste their bubbles. But it’s not the only thing, let us share our Champagne region travel tips with you.
The undisputed king of fizz, champagne comes from a picturesque part of north-east France, visited by tens of thousands of wine enthusiasts every year keen to pay homage to Dom Perignon and his méthode champenoise. But although this pretty region might be mostly about bubbles, there are also lots of other great things to do in Champagne.
An introduction to the waterways in Champagne
But before we get to the activities themselves, first a look at the rivers and canals in this region of France. The region is perfect for day trips from Paris and the River Marne provides the watery way to get there.
After the glittering lights of the capital on the majestic Seine, the Marne could not be more different. This is pastoral France at its best and it’s no surprise to discover that painters such as Cézanne and Corot found inspiration on its quiet water as the river meanders through fields and crops that glow golden in summer. You can soon understand why biking tours are popular.
The Marne flows directly through the vineyards of Champagne. To reach the capital Reims, you need to glide up the River Vesle, another pleasant route with the vineyards of champagne producers stretching as far as the eye can see.
Did you know? Occasionally, luxury hotel barges offer a Champagne itinerary. And when they do, it’s the ideal way to soak up this sedate part of France. Sit back and relax as your boat glides through the countryside and vineyards with stops at the best things to do in Champagne along the way. Champagne tours and art exhibitions are amongst UNESCO world heritage sites as the region’s top attractions.
> Discover the hotel barges covering Champagne
What to see when hotel barging in Champagne
Finding out more about the unique méthode champenoise and sampling the bubbles themselves is always going to be one of the main things to do in Champagne, but this part of France also has other must-do activities.
Discover the world of bubbly
As we’ve said, no list of things to do in Champagne would ever be complete without a visit to one of the great champagne houses in Reims, Epernay or Hautvillers. Guided tours talk you through the technique behind the unique méthode champenoise and usually include Champagne tastings too.
Top tip – book ahead for guided tours of the largest champagne houses like Champagne Pommery and Veuve Cliquot, and if you get the first slot of the day, make sure you fill up on breakfast. Champagne goes extra quickly to your head on an empty stomach!
Chill underground
It’s in the medieval chalk tunnels, known as crayères, that run underneath Epernay and Reims where all those bottles of fizz are housed. The Veuve Clicquot house boasts the most – their crayères stretch for 24km – while Ruinart has the loftiest with tunnel roofs that soar 50m high. Most champagne cellar tours include a visit to the tunnels where temperatures hover at a cool 10 degrees so take a sweater even in high summer.
Take the Champagne trail
For an in-depth look at the world of fizz, join the Champagne trail. Running for around 400km, the route divides into five separate discovery trails, each exploring a different part of this unique region. Expect stunning countryside where vineyards take center stage always, quiet picturesque villages and boutique champagne houses and cellars. Find out more
Top tip – if you’re planning to visit smaller vineyards, avoid going during harvest (usually late summer) – October and November are quieter months and champagne cellars won’t be quite so busy.
Discover Reims
Visit Champagne and its capital deserves at least a half day on your itinerary. Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims is one of the largest and finest Gothic churches in France and includes treasures such as medieval sculptures and Chagall stained glass. It also lays claim to hosting the coronations of around 30 French monarchs between 1123 and 1825.
Other treasures worth exploring in Reims include:
- Palace du Tau, a Neoclassical monument shaped in a T and with a stunning banqueting hall plus UNESCO World Heritage status
- Porte de Mars, built in 200AD and the longest Roman triumphal arch in the world
- Musée des Beaux-Arts, home to a sizeable collection of Corots (including the dreamy Marne landscapes) and Jacques-Louis David’s The Death of Marat.
> Discover more compelling reasons to visit Reims
Top tip – pack a brolly in your luggage and all-weather clothes when visiting Champagne. The region’s climate is similar to Britain’s and it can rain at any time.
Tour Champagne Avenue
Epernay, the other hotspot for bubbles, is another must on your list of things to do in Champagne. The town is home to the hallowed Avenue de Champagne, a boulevard that name drops from start to finish. Some of the most famous labels, including Moët et Chandon, have their headquarters here and often in stunning mansions.
Once you’ve strolled the Avenue and admired the champagne houses, don’t miss the Hôtel de Ville whose façade makes a good rival before taking in the Gabrielle Dorziat Theatre and Synagogue. Finish off with the Maison de Louis Savoie, built in the Renaissance style.
Visit in December to enjoy Les Habits de Lumière, a three-day festival of light celebrating Champagne in fireworks, parades and son et lumière shows.
Cross the river Marne from Epernay to Hautvillers where yet more champagne cellars reside close to the tomb of Dom Perignon. Walk the vineyard borders to see how each section is labelled with the name of the champagne producers to whom the vines belong. It’s one of the best ways to discover some of the smaller, lesser-known champagnes – their vines planted right alongside household names.
> Our favourite Epernay champagne houses
Go beech it
The Faux de Verzy, not far from Reims, is home to the world’s largest collection of dwarf beech trees and ranks among the best things to do in Champagne if you’re a fan of nature. Some 1,000 trees make up the forest, beautiful at any time of year, but perhaps at its majestic best in copper gold in the autumn.
Top tip – discover the trees on the 2km trail that circles the forest and includes information panels about these unusual beeches.
See Renoir’s studio
Corot and Cézanne might have found their inspiration in the countryside on the banks of the River Marne, but Pierre-Auguste Renoir made Champagne his home. One of the great Impressionist painters married and had his family in the village of Essoyes. This picture-perfect spot sits on the River Ourcq in the midst of vineyards and you can visit the great artist’s studio and see his grave in the cemetery.
Catch a festival
Saint Vincent is the patron saint of winegrowers and revered in all villages in Champagne. Time your trip for the first Sunday after 22 January for festivals in honour of him. Or come in the autumn to one of the harvest festivals or catch the Champagne et Vous at Château Thierry. Held in October, the three-day event celebrates the region’s bubbly with workshops, tastings, entertainment and markets selling Champagne from smaller vineyards.
What to eat in Champagne
In this part of France, the drinking bit is obvious. But a guide to visiting Champagne has to steer you to try different types of sparkling wines during your visit. They include rosé and blanc de blancs as well as brut. When it comes to the food on your plate, sampling local dishes is one of the best things to do in Champagne. As well as excellent traditional French fare, taste the following:
Local cheeses
In keeping with French tradition, Champagne produces excellent fromages – the perfect pairing for any wine lovers guide. They include:
Brie de Meaux – this soft cheese takes the crown of all French fromage, winning the prize at the 1815 Congress of Vienna. It has AOC status and once you’ve tasted it, you’ll agree with the judges at the Austrian capital.
Maroilles – a pungent cheese that comes in a rectangular block with a sticky red rind. Like Brie, it’s creamy and smooth, but quite unlike Brie, its taste has notes of lemon, mushroom and walnuts.
Top tip – local cheeses pair well with champagne, both as an aperitif and dessert.
> Delve deeper into the soft cheeses of France
Local mustard
It might be lesser known than Dijon, but Moutarde de Meaux rivals its more famous cousin in taste. This wholegrain condiment, invented in 1632 and a favourite at royal tables, comes in a stone jar sealed with wax.
Biscuit rose
And finally, something sweet. Like the mustard, the Biscuit Rose goes back in time and also found favour at the French Court. Created in Reims towards the end of the 17th century, this light biscuit gets its characteristic pink colour from carmine (cochineal). And unsurprisingly, is best dipped in champagne!
Choose barging in Champagne
Discover the best of French bubbly on board a luxury hotel barge for a vacation whose memories you’ll celebrate for years to come. The captains of our hand-picked fleet of unique barges know Champagne inside out and will guide you to the region’s highlights such as Reims cathedral and the Memorial Charles de Gaulle as you cruise along its waterways. And of course, on board you’ll enjoy the best of the area’s fine wining and dining including plenty of bubbles!
Fancy exploring somewhere else in France? Check out our other regional guides:
- Where to go hotel barging in France
- Where to go hotel barging in Burgundy
- Where to go hotel barging in Aquitaine
- Where to go hotel barging in Alsace
- Where to go hotel barging in Provence
PIN this post to share it with others:
