Discover the treasures of the region, from the Champagne Tourist Route to the historical and culinary sites of the Champagne region.
The tours
The gite is located on the Montagne de Reims (despite the name, it's a very small mountain) between Reims and Epernay, on the Champagne wine route. On the Reims side, there is a magnificent stretch of the mountain between Sermiers and Villedommange, offering superb views and beautiful hillsides. I recommend the Emilien Allouchery champagne in Ecueil.
Similarly, between Rilly la Montagne and Verzenay (where there is a lighthouse with a beautiful view), you will find more breathtaking scenery. Of course, Reims itself boasts the magnificent cathedral where many kings were crowned, and the city center is also worth a visit.
Near Reims, in the Massif of Saint Thierry, you'll find Champagne Lemaire in Saint Thierry and the Tonnellerie de Champagne (where you can learn about making oak barrels) in Hermonville.
On the Epernay side, take a scenic road to Hautvillers, the cradle of Champagne and home to the old abbey of Dom Perignon, I recommend visiting Champagne Joseph Desruets, which has the oldest press still in use. Champagne Tribaut offers good champagne and a tasting room with a magnificent panoramic view, and they're open on Sundays. In Aÿ, I recommend Grilliat champagne, our favorite for its exceptional value. There's also Pressoria, a sensorial champagne center that engages all your senses; it's a comprehensive experience for both experts and novices, and it's great for children.
You can also visit Bouzy, known for its red wine and champagne. I recommend Champagne Baron Dauvergne and Champagne Delavenne. They're friends and will give you a warm welcome.
Epernay's Avenue de Champagne is a must-see, with small castles belonging to the champagne houses or the families who own them. There are many places to enjoy a glass of champagne on a terrace, such as the Syndicat Général des Vignerons, which offers 100 champagnes on the menu. Other notable stops include Boizel, Perrier-Jouët, de Venoge, Leclerc-Briant (organic), Esterlin, and more. The Champagne Museum is also located on this avenue.
There's a beautiful road overlooking the Marne River between Cumières and Châtillon sur Marne, right in the middle of the Marne Valley. I recommend Champagne Roger Constant Lemaire in Villers sous Châtillon for its unique and natural champagne. In Passy-Grigny, Champagne Dom Caudron offers a good champagne and a small museum.
For all these producers, feel free to mention that you came through my recommendation.
Regarding the larger Champagne Houses, I recommend visiting at least one. They are experts at tours, explaining the steps, history, and showcasing incredible cellars.
If you want to rent bikes, we recommend https://pedalnpop.com/ or https://pedalnpop.com/ They will deliver bikes directly to our gites. My advice: take an electric bike, as the area is quite hilly.
We are in the middle of the Regional Natural Park of the Montagne de Reims, and there are many walks to take from our cottage without needing a car. This forest is exceptional and full of diversity. Are you passionate about nature? I invite you to visit the Park House in Pourcy, where you will find plenty of information about the local wildlife and plants, as well as activity ideas.
Remember to book on their website before coming to the region.
In Reims: Taittinger, Veuve Clicquot, Pommery Vranken, etc.
In Epernay: Moët et Chandon, Mercier (with a train tour in the immense cellars, perfect if you have children), de Castellane.
In Chalons en Champagne: Joseph Perrier cellars.
In Aÿ: Champagne Ayala and Champagne Collet.
There are so many more that I can't name them all—over 6000 winemakers in Champagne!
Champagne A&S Boever in Tauxières, Champagne Lejeune-Dirvang in Val de Livre, Champagne Edouard Brun in Ay, Champagne Chiquet in Dizy, and many more.
And there's still more to explore.
On your next visit, try the Côte des Bar in Aube, with magnificent Champagne wines and splendid roads, perfect for nature lovers and a change of scenery.
Restaurants
Here are the closest ones, and it is advisable to book in advance:
- At the Royal Champagne in Champillon, two restaurants:
- Le Bellevue, a gastronomic brasserie
- Le Royal, a one-star restaurant
- In Aÿ:
- La Rôtisserie Henri 4 (a good brasserie with traditional and some modern dishes)
- The Avarum (sophisticated cuisine with original dishes)
In Mutigny:
- L'Oisium, located in a superb hotel, offers original cuisine with vegan options.
In Epernay:
- Le Why Not, with nice and elaborate cuisine
- Le Sardaigne, the oldest pizzeria in Epernay with an interesting brasserie menu and daily specials during the week
- Le Cook In, a French-Thai restaurant with remarkable quality, run by a French chef who worked in Thailand. His food combines flavors from both countries.
In Magenta:
- Chez Max, a typical and emblematic restaurant in the area (very affordable homemade brewery)
Near Reims, in Sacy:
- Le Château de Sacy, a gastronomic restaurant in a beautiful setting
- Le Comptoir à Bulles, a small restaurant with original cuisine full of flavor, using local products.
In Reims, there are so many good restaurants that it's hard to recommend just a few. Head to Place d'Erlon or Place du Boulingrin, where you'll find many great options. One place I really like is Le Tablier on Place d'Erlon, which offers many recipes made with fresh, local products at great prices.
Note that we are fortunate to have a 3-star restaurant in the Michelin guide: L'Assiette Champenoise.
