Welcome to Champagne - Ardenne
Welcome to a charming region where you can make the most of the peace and quiet and enjoy a holiday in rural accommodation that helps making you feel at home.
Since 2016, this region has been part of Alsace and Lorraine area, making it the Grand Est region. It is also a region with a lot of history, as during the First and Second World War it was the scene of several important battles in history.
It is divided into four departments, which are Ardennes where you can visit the Ducal Square or the fortress of Sedan, Marne which is the main place of champagne production and where there are many wineries, Haute-Marne which is the natural department par excellence and where you can find the city of Langres and Aube, another department where champagne is produced and where the landscape is full of vineyards.
It is one of the French regions with the smallest number of inhabitants, being at the bottom of the list of the most populated regions in France. You'll find plenty of traditional villages to spend a day in on your trip.
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What to see
Champagne-Ardennes is much more than its typical drink, although if you travel here you must definitely do a tasting or visit the cellars and vineyards in the area. Book a champagne tasting day and you'll love it.
Its capital is Châlons-en-Champagne, which is well worth a visit, although there are other charming fortified and medieval villages such as Troyes, Reims or Langres, where you will find history in their streets.
But if we're talking about culture and nature, you must see the Hautvillers hillsides or the Pommery and Veue-Clicquot wineries, all of which have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
In Reims, don't miss Notre-Dame Cathedral, which is also a World Heritage Site, as well as the Basilica of St. Rémi. As for the non-religious buildings, the castle of Sedan is the largest one in Europe, so you can't miss it!
Finally, for a spectacular view, the ramparts of Langres will offer you the best panoramic view.
What to eat
If we had to choose a symbol of this region, we would undoubtedly highlight champagne, which is a product that cannot be missing from the table of any inhabitant or tourist in Champagne-Ardennes.
But on the plate you will be able to enjoy a lot of typical recipes of the area, among which the charcuterie products are very famous, such as andouillette and white blood sausage, without forgetting the dry-cured ham that is also very typical of Ardennes.
Cheese is a must in the French recipe book, and Langres cheese is one of the best known, although it is a rather strong cheese.
To finish off a typical menu, order the Reims biscuit. You'll love its pink colour decorated with icing sugar.
Nature
The Champagne Ardennes region is clearly marked by the production of its most famous drink, so in the different territories of the area you will be able to see a multitude of crop fields.
But this is not the end of the natural essence here, since there are also three artificial lakes: the Chantecoq, the Lac d'Orient and the Lac du Temple, which also serve as a relief for the inhabitants during the hot season.
If you are a lover of nature sports, we recommend you go hiking in the Meuse Valley, which is also a very popular area for fishing as there are many varieties.
A mix of landscapes that we're sure you'll love!
Our festivities
As in any region, the festive dates are a real event for the inhabitants, as well as being a boost for tourism.
In this region we find some very famous celebrations, such as the Joan of Arc Festival, which is one of the most important events in the country, held during the month of June and honouring of this region’s patron saint. It takes place in Reims and during its celebration there are some medieval markets and historical representations.
Another event not to be missed is the Sedan Medieval Festival, which is held in May and will take you back in time with activities such as medieval sports and gastronomy. And of course, you cannot miss the champagne festival.
