Moët & Chandon is one of the oldest and best known manufacturers of champagne in the world. Take a guided tour around the headquarters located in the Champagne region of France where they still use the original cellars of 1743, when the company was founded. All tours, which are conducted in French and English (other languages available on request), include a tasting of champagne. For further details on timings and booking tours, call ahead or check the website.
Situated in a region known for its fine wines and champagne, Champagne Tribaut is one of the wineries responsible for the regions popularity. Stretching over 12 acres (4.8 hectares), this is where some of the finest champagne available in the region comes to life. Everything that goes into the production of the wine is grown onsite, which ensures each batch is consistent and as perfect as the previous. Visitors can take the tour of the vineyard and winery, wherein each stage of production, from the picking of fruits to the barreling and ageing, is perfectly depicted.
While driving or walking down Avenue de Champagne, you'll be impressed by the magnificent buildings located alongside. Besides the city Hall (at the bottom of the avenue) and the visitor's bureau where they'll help you plan your visit of the town, take some of your time to visit the renown houses that made Champagne wines famous across the world, Mercier, Möet-et-Chandon or Mumm.
Built in 1909 by the flamboyant Joseph Goulet to smuggle champagne along the coast, the Phare de Verzenay lighthouse used to light up at night and even had its own restaurant and dance door hidden below. Heavy bombing during World War 1 saw the demise of these impish activities and the lighthouse became defunct. However the commune of Verzenay transformed the space into an actual living museum. Today, it has become popular for day trippers who want to spend the day by the water while also learning the fascinating history of the lighthouse.
Situated in Châlons En Champagne, Parc des Expositions is a massive event venue. This center is popular for staging versatile events, right from concerts to trade fairs and business conferences. This spacious venue features well-facilitated spaces for small-and large-scale events. In case you feel hungry, Parc des Expositions houses a restaurant and bar ideal for a quick pre-show bite or an elaborate dinner post an event. Prior booking for major concerts and events are recommended.
The Bollinger winery sprawls over 160 hectares of the central Champagne region. A visit to this place will not disappoint; tastings in the elegant main house overlooking the lush vineyards are the perfect way to spend an afternoon. Bollinger champagnes have a base of pinot noir, with small amounts of chardonnay and other grapes that lend it a refined, complex flavor.
In the village of Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne Launois offers visitors a chance to delve into the rich history of viticulture and champagne. Le Musée de la Vigne et du Vin presents in its two hour guided visit a collection of antique tools of the trade as well as the opportunity to taste three different champagnes at the end of the tour. Don't miss this chance to see first hand the culture of champagne.
The Châlons Cathedral was originally built in the 12th-century in the Roman style, however, it was renovated later in the Gothic and Baroque styles, making it a patchwork of history. Don't miss this beautiful piece of Catholic history on your trip to the region.
Rated among the premier institutes of the country, Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers or ENSAM is a top notch engineering institute of France which has a campus in Châlons-en-Champagne. The institute provides education in the fields of mechanical engineering, systems engineering, manufacturing engineering and industrial engineering. Besides focusing on the curriculum, the ENSAM also brings its students face to face with industrial experience through internships, apprenticeships, seminars, meetings and conferences. Check website for detailed information.
Equal parts art gallery and home decor boutique, Le Clos Gallice is an exquisite place, regardless of how one categorizes it. The brainchild of Veronique Carlotti and Isabelle Royer, Le Clos Gallice hosts a congregation of local artists and craftsmen. On display are enchanting wood-carved artworks, curios, frescoes, paintings and even upholstery items. Peruse through these pieces to simply admire art in its most versatile form, or to find a remarkable piece of furniture for your home.
The entire Champagne region of France has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Vine Escape is a tour group which offers special tours of this beautiful and culturally enriched area. Discovery trips of the many vineyards, wineries and the heritage and colonial-era houses in cities like Reims, Epernay and Hautvillers are covered during these tours. Full day and half day tours of the area as well as custom designed tours are offered here. For a comprehensive look at the historic heritage as well as the wine culture of the Champagne region, Vine Escape tours are a must.
Exhibiting vestiges of World War II, the museum showcases the history of the aviation site of Conde-Vraux. Sprawled across the front yard of the museum is the regional plane MH1521 Broussard and a special exhibit of the cockpit of a 1934 aircraft are present on site as well. The museum is open only for a few hours on weekends.