Things to do
Most people come to this region of France to visit the famous champagne houses and taste some of the fabulous champagne produced here by the likes of Moet in Epernay and Tattinger and Pommery in Reims.
Most people come to this region of France to visit the famous champagne houses and taste some of the fabulous champagne produced here by the likes of Moet in Epernay and Tattinger and Pommery in Reims.
Most people come to this region of France to visit the famous champagne houses and taste some of the faboulous champagne produced here like Moet in Epernay and Taittinger and Pommery in Reims.
You can follow “the route touristique” which leads you through some lovely villages where you can visit the well known houses and also small producers. There are vineyards where you can hire bikes and be taken on a cycling tour and plenty of small enthusiastic producers who will sit you around the kitchen table and let you try their lovely wines. These tastings are usually free, so it is always nice if you purchase a bottle or two.
Reims is not just the “home” of champagne, it is a lovely city to wander through with some very good restaurants, from the Art Deco inspired Cafe du Palais to the elegant Les Crayères. Epernay is much smaller but very pretty and also worth visiting,with his beautiful Avenue du Champagne. Both are half an hour driving from us. The old town of Troyes is about 45 minutes drive south, where the champagne producing region continues and is also a lovely place to wander through.
The château de Mairy, located in the pretty village of Mairy sur Marne is about 10 minutes from Chalons en Champagne which has a station taking you directly to Paris in about 1hr 40 minutes. From the airport Charles de Gaulle the TGV brings you in 30 minutes to Reims, the beautiful cathedral city, the very heart of champagne country Epernay and the medieval town of Troyes.
You can then end up in Epernay, which has many of the bigger houses, Mercier for example and then be brought merrily back to the château We would also recommend a visit to Hautvilliers where Dom Perignon is burried and you can try lots of different champagnes in one place. If you would like a more organised trip then visit www.tastysidetolifetours.com. They arrange tailor made tours and transport. Our local tourist office in Chalons en Champagne also arrange tours, you can visit their site. For further information about things to do in the region visit the tourist information sites for Epernay, Reims and Troyes.
To visit the best places we suggest hiring a coach who can pick you up from the château and start with the house of your favourite champagne Pommery, Ruinart …Alternatively you can go to Vrigny or Vilmart in the heart of the Montagne de Reims and book for a lunch and take “the route touristique” through the vineygards,perhaps stopping at some smaller producers.
There is a magnificent 18 hole golf course close by at Chalons en Champagne called La Grande Romanie. In the village there is also a tennis court which guests of the château can use free of charge. We are also about 300m from the river Marne where you will find a lovely small beach from where you can take a dip or do some fishing.
Lac du Der is 30 minutes drive offering lovely beaches and watersports. There is a light craft and glider field in Ecury sur Coole, a village nearby where you can be taken for short flights or up in a glider, weather permitting. You can take a boat ride down the Marne from Cumieres, which also offers dinner possibilities, contact www.champagne-et-croisiere.com and you can cycle through the vineyards, contact champagne-domimoreau.com
There is a magnificent 18 hole golf course close by at Chalons en Champagne called La Grande Romanie. In the village there is also a tennis court which guests of the château can use free of charge. We are also about 300m from the river Marne where you will find a lovely small beach from where you can take a dip or do some fishing.
Lac du Der is 30 minutes drive offering lovely beaches and watersports. There is a light craft and glider field in Ecury sur Coole, a village nearby where you can be taken for short flights or up in a glider, weather permitting. You can take a boat ride down the Marne from Cumieres, which also offers dinner possibilities, contact www.champagne-et-croisiere.com and you can cycle through the vineyards, contact champagne-domimoreau.com
You can take a boat ride down the Marne from Cumieres, which also offers dinner possibilities, contact champagne-et-croisiere.com.
You can cycle through the vineyards, contact champagne-domimoreau.com.