Champagne Region
The birthplace of the world's most famous sparkling wine - a UNESCO landscape of vineyards, grand houses and deep chalk cellars around Reims and Epernay.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
UNESCO World Heritage
Champagne, the only region whose sparkling wine may bear the name, is a UNESCO cultural landscape of vineyards, grand houses and deep chalk cellars around Reims and Epernay, east of Paris. Here the great Champagne houses age millions of bottles in kilometres of tunnels cut into the chalk, and cellar tours end, of course, with a tasting of the celebrated fizz.
What you actually see
- The Champagne houses - the grand maisons of Reims and Epernay and their cellar tours.
- The chalk cellars - the kilometres of tunnels where the wine ages.
- The Avenue de Champagne - Epernay's street of great Champagne houses.
- Reims Cathedral - the great Gothic coronation cathedral in the region's capital.
When to go
Late spring to autumn for the vineyards and tours; September for the harvest. The cellar tours are a year-round pleasure, and Reims is an easy day trip from Paris.
Honest expectations
The grand-house cellar tours are ticketed and can be pricey, though they end with a tasting; smaller growers offer a more personal experience. It is an easy trip from Paris. The vineyards are pretty but gentle rather than dramatic.
Nearby
Reims Cathedral is in the regional capital; Paris is forty-five minutes by fast train.
What to pack for Champagne Region
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
