Best Parks in Champagne & Brie Region

One of the largest royal châteaux in France, the Palace of Fontainebleau has hosted some of the most notable of the country's kings, queens and aristocrats from the 12th Century onward. Its interiors feature an opulent and grandiose collection of ornamentation that run the gamut from wood paneling, gilded carvings and frescoes to fine art, tapestries and sculpture. Only the keep of the original 12th-century chateau built by King Louis VII still stands, the rest replaced by the exuberant reconstruction of the palace in the Renaissance style by King Francis I. Built to an aesthetic recently imported from Italy in the 16th Century, the chateau is one of the earliest examples of this kind of architecture in France. Over the subsequent years, Fontainebleau was expanded as successive generations of monarchs, including Henri II, Catherine de Médicis, Henri IV and Louis XVI, made their own additions. Known to have been adored by Napoleon Bonaparte I, Fontainebleau has played a major role in Europe's monarchical history. Henry the III, Louis the XII and Philip the Fair were all born here. Even Pope Pius VII stayed here for a time before the palace became the seat of the Second Empire of Napoleon III. Following World War II, the palace served as the headquarters of the Allied Forces and NATO. Today, it is a museum that attracts thousands of visitors each year. Surrounded by lush gardens, the Palace of Fontainebleau is the very epitome of opulence.

The Park of the Capuchins boasts of beautiful flowers with accents of trees and well-placed benches. It was created by Catherine Gonzaga in 1612. This garden is home to the ruins of the Duchess of Longueville's castle. In the summer, the free 'Jazz with the Capuchins' festival is held here on Sunday nights. For further details, please call ahead.

This beautiful stretch of forest, paths, flowers and fields was created in 1907 by Edouard Redont, commissioned by le Marquis Melchior de Polignac. Facilities and a school for athletics were created and managed with great success, and athletic competitions take place here to this day. The Parc serves as a venue for spring, summer, and autumn events such as art exhibits and concerts. Entrance fee is 2 euros for adults, 1 euro for children 6-18 years old. Timings vary every month, depending on events in the park. The park is open all year, but the timings for a few days may be different, please check the website for a complete schedule.

Constructed in 1754 as a country house of the abbot Terray, the Château de la Motte Tilly remained in the family until 1972, when it became the property of the Center for National Monuments. The building itself is a gorgeous example of 18th-century architecture which, along with its setting of beautifully landscaped gardens, creates a symmetrical composition which leads to the mirror pond near the Seine. The Orangerie, a fashionable structure which originated in Italy and was built on estates of the 17th through 19th Centuries, is available to rent for private or professional events. The Château is open for extended hours during summer months, and offers several guided visits each day. Check website as open times may vary with each day.

Located in the picturesque commune of Bussy Saint-Martin, Parc Culturel de Rentilly has plenty to offer to its neighboring residents. While a chateau occupies a major part of the property, the landscaped gardens surrounding it offer plenty of tranquil spaces to visitors. The culturally inclined will love the regular exhibits on display in the chateau, while kids can enjoy the occasional live performances held here. If you're lucky, you might just see a deer peeping from behind the bushes.

France is synonymous with cheese and sparkling wine and one of its popular vineyards is the Montagne de Reims Regional Natural Park. The park is confined by a wooded area in the Montagne de Reims hills and has beautiful vineyards that produce some of the best champagne in the world. Along with vines, the place also has a wide variety of endemic and delicate species of flora and fauna. The natural park, also known as Parc naturel régional de la Montagne de Reims, is thus under protection by the state in the Champagne-Ardenne region.

Established in the 19th Century, Parc de l'Hôtel de Ville d'Epernay is a spellbinding garden portraying elements of French and English landscaping. The gardens surround the city park hall and were probably laid down to the designs of architect brother-duo Eugène and Denis Bühler. While the French aesthetics are best viewed from the city hall steps, the English landscaping is evident from the serene ponds, groves and undulating alleys.