Champagne-Ardenne Things to Do

  Chagal windows
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  • Chagal windows
      Chagal windows
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  • Welcome desk at Mercier
      Welcome desk at Mercier
    by Herkbert
  • Now that's a big barrel - 200,000 bottles.
      Now that's a big barrel - 200,000...
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  • Tasting Room
      Tasting Room
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  • Mill'Bulles, Little Tourist Train
      Mill'Bulles, Little Tourist Train
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Most Viewed Things to Do in Champagne-Ardenne

26.

Cathédrale Notre Dame   Reims

Cathédrale Notre Dame, Reims

 43 Reviews  The site of the coronation of France's kings for centuries, la Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims is among the most important in French history. It is also considered a masterpiece of Gothic architecture,... 

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27.

Champagne Tasting and Tours   Reims

Champagne Tasting and Tours, Reims

 28 Reviews  This wonderful museum has 200 vehicles on show, some 160 cars and some 40 motor-cyles and also numerous very special and extraordinary vehicles. You can also admire some 4,000 miniature cars, enamel... 

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28.

Basilique Saint Rémi   Reims

Basilique Saint Rémi, Reims

 14 Reviews  Maybe my favourite church in Reims. While less impressive than the cathedral, the basilique Saint Rémi is a superb example of gothic over roman style. The outside, too many times renovated (sometimes... 

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29.

Mumm Champagne House   Reims

Mumm Champagne House, Reims

 10 Reviews  It was founded by three brothers, Jacobus, Gottlieb and Phillip Mumm, German winemakers from the Rhine valley and G. Heuser and Friedrich Giesler on March 1, 1827 as P. A. Mumm Giesler et C°. P.A.... 

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30.

Palais du Tau   Reims

Palais du Tau, Reims

 8 Reviews  Right beside the Cathedral downtown, the Palace du Tau is a museum that still contains remnants of its 13th century origins. It was redesigned in the 17th century by Mansart and Cotte. The Tau Room... 

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31.

Moet & Chandon   Reims

Moet & Chandon, Reims

 4 Reviews  Visit the Moët et Chandon winery in Epernay including the caves and Champagne sampling. Unique Qualities: My personal preference over Pommery and Momms. They produce the Don Perignon which remains an... 

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32.

Cryptoportique   Reims

Cryptoportique, Reims

 3 Reviews  What was once the Roman Forum of Durocortorum (Roman Reims), remained a square full of commercial activity to the present day. Below ground level at the centre of the square is an archaeological site,... 

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33.

Place Drouet   Reims

Place Drouet, Reims

 3 Reviews  The most animated part of Reims, Place Drouet-d'Erlon is the cultural heart of the city. Although referred to as a square ("place"), it is in fact a long, tree-lined, pedestrianised avenue with... 

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34.

Hôtel le Vergeur   Reims

Hôtel le Vergeur, Reims

 3 Reviews  This "speciality" is situated at the Place du Forum. This large individual house is basically an example of Renaissance Style, although it also has a 13th Century GOTHIC hall. But first and foremost... 

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35.

Musée-Abbaye Saint-Rémi   Reims

Musée-Abbaye Saint-Rémi, Reims

 3 Reviews  Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the adjacent Basilica, this complex was once the Abbey of Saint-Rémi, where the Holy Ampulla, used for the coronations of French kings, was held.... 

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36.

Salle de Reddition   Reims

Salle de Reddition, Reims

 3 Reviews  During the last part of World War II, the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, General Eisenhower, set up his headquarters here in Reims. He chose a former schoolhouse near the railroad... 

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37.

Église Saint Jacques   Reims

Église Saint Jacques, Reims

 2 Reviews  One of the oldest surviving churches in Reims, Église Saint-Jacques is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Its construction began around 1190 and continued until 1270. Some remodelling occurred... 

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38.

Musée des Beaux-Arts   Reims

Musée des Beaux-Arts, Reims

 2 Reviews  Housed in the old monastery of Saint-Denis, le Musée des Beaux-Arts is considered one of the most important regional fine arts museums in France. It was founded in 1794 and was originally located... 

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39.

Porte Mars   Reims

Porte Mars, Reims

 2 Reviews  Named after a nearby non-extant Temple of Mars, this Roman-period structure was a triumphal arch built in the 3rd century AD. It once led into the cardo maximus, the road which cut through the city of... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

PYRAMID OF THE FERME OF NAVARIN

by mtncorg

German trenches covered the ground here from September 1915 until July 1918. The French 4th Army attacked in this area 26 September in concert with the American push in the Meuse-Argonne just to the east of Champagne. The monument here was inspired by the French commander General Gouraud who was a much beloved figure within the French ranks. It commemorates all of the Allied dead in the Champagne and records along the base of the pyramid the names of all 93 French infantry, 8 cavalry and one air division that took part in the battles throughout the war. Also named are the four American divisions, the two Russian brigades, the Czech brigade and the 1st Polish regiment. Gouraud had a legendary career beginning with Fashoda in the Sudan. He became the youngest general in 1914 September fighting in the Argonne and the Champagne before being sent off to Gallipoli where lost his right arm 30...

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ROLAND GARROS’ GRAVE

by mtncorg

Tennis aficionados will recognize Roland Garros’ name as it adorns the stadium in Paris where the French Open is held every year. Now, I am guessing, Garros liked to play tennis, but his real claim to fame was for his innovation in aviation warfare. He was involved with seminal attempts to mount guns which could shoot straight through the propeller of the plane. Armoring the propeller made it possible to blast away, though it was very dangerous observers watching from the side of the plane as ricochets killed several. After shooting down three German planes, Garros’ plane was forced down behind German lines and he was taken prisoner. His plane then served as a source of inspiration for Dutch aviation designer Anthony Fokker who designed the first true propeller interrupter which did away with propeller armor and gave the Germans a momentary advantage in the skies. Garros escaped prison...

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CZECHOSLOVAK BRIGADE MEMORIAL

by mtncorg

Across the Aisne River from Vouziers is a memorial to the soldiers of the Czechoslovak Brigade which fought alongside the French in WWI. Czehoslovaks had been a part of the French Foreign Legion and had been a part of the fighting since the beginning of the war. An autonomous Czechoslovak army was established by French decree 19 Dec 1917, six months following the establishment of a similar Polish army. Two Czechoslovak Rifle Regiments would be created – the 21st on 18 Jan 1918 and the 22nd on 18 May 1918. These units initially fought as part of a French infantry division. The two regiments were eventually banded together as the Czechoslovak Brigade and saw action near Vouziers in the late fighting of 1918. Some 9,600 soldiers made up the brigade and it is thought that some 650 Czechoslovaks died on the Western Front. Of course, many more died fighting as part of the Austro-Hungarian...

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POLISH CEMETERY BOIS DU PUITS

by mtncorg

The so-called ‘International Cemetery’ consists of three adjacent cemeteries: the French Auberiver-sur-Suippe Military Cemetery – 6424 men buried with 2908 in three ossuaries; a German cemetery is behind the French one with some 5359 men buried. On the west side of the French cemetery is the Polish cemetery le Bois du Puits. Polish soldiers fought for the Allied cause in both World Wars and are buried on both sides – some 129 from the First and 266 from the Second. Poles had been an integral part of the French Foreign Legion for years and as such they had been involved in fighting on the Western Front since the beginning of the War. Following a political agreement between France and a resurrected new sovereign nation of Poland, the units of what would become the Blue Army were formed. The men making up this force consisted of Poles serving already in the French army of ex-POW’s from...

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RUSSE

by mtncorg

The Russian Expeditionary Force was sent to France in 1916 in exchange for badly-needed munitions that went to Russia. Many of the Russians would claim to have been ‘sold’ as a result of the trade. Four brigades were originally sent – almost 32,000 men – and many in France thought it was just the vanguard of a huge force to come, but developments in Russia negated that idea. As soon as the REF arrived, two of the brigades were sent on to the Allied beach head at Salonika in Greece leaving the 1st and 3rd brigades – just under 20,000 men – in France. Despite foreign food, homesickness, no mail and a belief that the French were using them as cannon fodder, the Russians fought hard and well until early 1917. With the fall of the Czar came elected Soldier’s Councils claiming the right to approve or disapprove Russian troop actions. They did vote to take part in the Nivelle Offensive of April...

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VALMY – BIRTHPLACE OF THE FIRST REPUBLIC OF FRANCE

by mtncorg

On the eastern edge of the Champagne, just west of the Argonne Forest stands the rebuilt windmill on the battlefield of Valmy. You can see it from the Strasbourg TGV or the Auto route Est. As far as battles go, the fight here was not a major affair, but by resulting in the withdrawal of an Austro-Prussian force of over 80,000 commanded by the Duke of Brunswick following the battle on 20 September 1792, the outnumbered French Revolutionary soldiers commanded by General Francois Christophe Kellerman would ensure the short-term survival of the new French Republic.Most of Kellermans’s forces were little-trained volunteers with no combat experience, but they were buttressed with long-serving soldiers, as well. They would serve to firm the French lines that day. Some of those long-timers including the men serving in the French artillery, thought to be among the finest in the World at that...

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MOURMELON-LE-GRANDE

by mtncorg

The large present French military base here at Mourmelon-le-Grande has its roots in the Second Empire of Napoleon III. Created as a summertime parade ground where Napoleon III could escape Paris and watch his troops parade in the dust of the Champagne Plains, the area became one of the first martial exercise training areas, something that continues to this day. During Napoleon’s time the ‘exercises’ took place as basically grand parades, but today’s French army has a more serious mission at hand. The exercise grounds have also been vastly enlarged with the addition of the region north of Suippes being added after WWI left nothing but devastation in its wake. Nearby you will find numerous cemeteries dating to the traumatic fighting of WWI as well as the remains of an ancient military camp dating to Attila - a place that Napoleon III used to like out to, sitting and brooding about the...

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Take a drive to Bouzy

by pedroswift

What an attractive sounding name for a village. Any drinker worth his/her salt would want to visit. Better still, this village is famous for its "Bouzy Rouge". In days of yesteryear the famous product of champagne was red wine : still red wine. Made from Pinot Noir grapes, this wine, because it came from the region, was called "Champagne". It was consumed during the coronation of Kings at Reims, we are told. Anyway, Bouzy has a microclimate suited to the cultivation of Pinot Noir and the product is still sold as red still wine (Bouzy Rouge) as well as being used in the classic sparkling Champagne blend. Also Bouzy Rouge is used by various Champagne Houses to give colour to their Rose style champers.Visit Bouzy (sse of Reims and ene of Epernay) to taste Champagne at lesser houses but don't forget to ask for a drop of Bouzy Rouge.

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Visit Chalons

by hquittner

Chalons-en-Champagne (pop. 45K) has recently legally reassumed this, its ancient name and so its listing in VT as Ch.-sur-Marne is in error. Whatever. It is worth a visit if you are a "church-hopper" as we are. It has a Cathedral and a more impressive Notre-Dame-en-Vaux which embodies the early Gothic innovations that were occurring while it was being built (late 12 & early 13 C). In addition there is an important small museum built to exhibit the statuary and stonework recovered from recent digs that unearthed the astoundingly fine work that was the 12C cloister of Notre-Dame. These fine works are rarely mentioned in Art texts but should be seen as they are better than those at Chartres.

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And back to Champagne!

by kokoryko

And back to Champagne! On the route du Champagne, the small villages are decorated by local artists, celebrating the making of this beverage; in the village of Courtaumont, you will see this giant grape (main picture) showing the different phases in chronological order of wxine growing and Champagne making (and drinking at the end! Cheers! Shake the glasses, never drink Champagne (or stolen Chateau Lascombe) alone! So, during my tour in Champagne, as I was with a muslim friend, I did not drink Champagne. . . . but if you want to come with me next time. . . . . There are lots of local small vineries in the villages, some have nice signs on the houses (second picture), most are indicated at the entrance of the villages (picture 3). Some of the cooperatives where the juice is processed are also decorated (picture 4). To end the trip, bye, bye to the little villages in the vineyards (picture...

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Fun things to do in Champagne-Ardenne

Top 3 Hotels in Champagne-Ardenne

Chateau Les Crayeres  Reims

 2 Reviews and 118 Opinions  This hotel is housed in one of the most beautiful chateaux in eastern France. The hotel is... 

 Hotels in Reims

Mercure Troyes Centre  Troyes

 146 Opinions

 Hotels in Troyes

La Villa Eugene  Épernay

 115 Opinions

 Hotels in Épernay

237 Hotels in Champagne-Ardenne
 
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Reviews and photos of Champagne-Ardenne attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Champagne-Ardenne sightseeing.

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Things to Do: Cities in Champagne-Ardenne
  1. Reims Things to Do
  2. Épernay Things to Do
  3. Troyes Things to Do
  4. Châlons-sur-Marne Things to Do
  5. Sedan Things to Do
  6. Charleville-Mézières Things to Do
  7. Fismes Things to Do
  8. Langres Things to Do
  9. Valmy Things to Do
  10. Vroncourt-la-Côte Things to Do
  11. Villemaur-sur-Vanne Things to Do
  12. Étoges Things to Do
  13. L'Épine Things to Do
  14. Auberive Things to Do
  15. Châlons-en-Champagne Things to Do

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Questions and Answers

lindanne profile photo

Q:  Does anyone know what this town is like? Thinking of staying there for one night to break up journey driving from Alsace (near... 

aurelien85 profile photo

A: Avoid !!! My parents live 45 minutes drive from there, so I've been there a few times on the road to summer holidays. Vitry le François is a small city with nearly... 

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