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Off the Beaten Path in Champagne-Ardenne
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Champagne-Ardenne Off the Beaten Path

View over Epernay - Champagne-Ardenne
View over Epernay
by markyg
Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Champagne-Ardenne attractions, posted by real travelers and locals.
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Champagne-Ardenne Off the Beaten PathTips 1 - 5 of 5  
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Hautvillers
  • Tip Rating:
    • freya_heaven
  • Updated By freya_heaven on October 26, 2004
  • Champagne-Ardenne Page by freya_heaven
    • Hautvillers Views over surrounding Vineyards - Champagne-Ardenne
    Hautvillers Views over
    surrounding Vineyards
    by freya_heaven
    Six Kilometers from Epernay is the gorgeous village of Hautvillers. It is here where the Benedictine Monk Dom Pierre Perignon created Champagne in 1668 in the local Abby.

    This is the Dom Perignon Champagne we know today. The Benedictine Abby here dates back to the 6th Century, you can still visit it, and even see the grave of Dom Pierre Perignon himself.

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    Dwarf Mutant Beech Trees
  • Tip Rating:
    • freya_heaven
  • By freya_heaven on October 24, 2004
  • Champagne-Ardenne Page by freya_heaven
    • Dwarf Mutant Beech Tree - Champagne-Ardenne
    Dwarf Mutant Beech Tree
    by freya_heaven
    In the Montagne de Reims just outside the village of Verzy are some 800 "mutant dwarf Beech trees. "

    These strange looking trees have been documented as far back as the 600s. Apparently it is not too uncommon to find these trees in 2s or 3s, but 800 is unique. Although they do reproduce naturally, scientists in Reims carry out in-vitro fertilisation to ensure this mutant species survives.

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    Parc Natural Regional da la Montagne de Reims
  • Tip Rating:
    • freya_heaven
  • By freya_heaven on October 24, 2004
  • Champagne-Ardenne Page by freya_heaven
    • See how small these beech trees are!! - Champagne-Ardenne
    See how small these beech
    trees are!!
    by freya_heaven
    Parc Natural Regional da la Montagne de Reims is a picturesque forest area along side the Champagne tourist route south if Reims.

    There are many trails & paths you can take through the forest. You can pick up maps of these at the tourist office in Pourcy.

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    Hautvillers-Ouville
  • Tip Rating:
    • freya_heaven
  • Updated By freya_heaven on October 26, 2004
  • Champagne-Ardenne Page by freya_heaven
    • Hautvillers-Ouville Square - Champagne-Ardenne
    Hautvillers-Ouville Square
    by freya_heaven
    The photo is the picturesque village square, with a bust of Dom Perignon. There are many Champagne houses and shops here and the surrounding area.

    Hautvillers-Ouville is the official name of this village. In 1475 the village was burned down, by whome I dont know (yet). At this time the village was known as Hautvillers.

    It was rebuilt and the burnt down again, this time by the Spanish in 1635, what bad luck! At this time the village was called Ouville.

    There are walking tours of the village, and a little tourist office.

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    Ay-Champagne lovers dream
    markyg
  • By markyg on February 26, 2006
  • Champagne-Ardenne Page by markyg
    • View over Epernay - Champagne-Ardenne
    View over Epernay
    by markyg
    When going to the Champagne region, most people visit Epernay, the center of champagne production or Reims, the larger historical city. However, I would recommend staying/visiting Ay. We stayed at a champagne house in Ay and found it to be not only a hidden gem, but also a real local experience. Ay is a town that thrives on champagne production. There were about 3 restaurants, 2 bars, a bakery, a grocery store, several small shops and seemingly a dozen or so champagne houses. While you won't get the big tour as in Epernay, you can visit several houses within a few minutes walk and sit down and try some of the champagne and talk to the owners/makers. The variety of champagne blew me away and there were some of the most affordable good bottles from about $12 and up. There are no lines and no hordes of tourists. Several of the champagne houses offer rooms for the night at half the rate as in Epernay, plus they feed you full of champagne. The bakery in the town was one of the best I had been to in France and the restaurants were affordable. Ay is a bit off of the main highway but only a few minutes outside of Epernay.

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