Why You Should Visit The Champagne Region From Paris
The first reason to visit the Champagne region is obviously to taste Champagne. Even though its fairly common to refer to all sorts of sparkling as Champagne, its fundamentally wrong.
Only sparkling wine that comes from the Champagne region, made from regional grapes and ages in the miles-long underground cave system, can legally be called Champagne. By visiting the Champagne, youre basically at the source of everything that is good.
Wait, you are more into wine? Take a day trip to Bordeaux instead!
But the Champagne is also historically a very interesting destination. The biggest city of the new Grand Est region, Reims, had already been a major city in the Roman Empire. Some ruins got preserved until today!
Reims also has one of the most important cathedrals in France! Between the 12th and the 19th century, most french kings got crowned there. Located relatively close to the German border, many battlegrounds of WWI were located in the Champagne region and can be visited today.
And to get back to the fun stuff: you can taste champagne!
Champagne is a sparkling wine made from Chardonnay, Pinot noir or Pinot Meunier grapes. Even though the term Champagne is for many a generic label for any kind of sparkling wine, legally ONLY those coming from the region can be called Champagne.
What you can expect in Reims
a beautiful cathedral
the Palais du Tau
Roman ruins, for example, the Mars Gate
Renting A Car In Paris
If you dont want to deal with timing the trains correctly, consider renting a car in Paris and driving to Champagne yourself. Not only will this allow you to see more places in Champagne, but will also give you the freedom to explore at your own pace. Cruising through the French countryside is an experience in and of itself! The roads in France are in great condition and finding your way around is efficient and simple.
What To See On Your Champagne Day Trip
Because Reims is also a university town, it has a busier city center, more amenities, and a more lively nightlife. Epernay has fewer services and a more old-world, small-town vibe but it also has great dining options, lovely architecture, and some travelers prefer its quieter feel. Both towns have world-class food, including out-of-this-world local fare and a handful of Michelin-rated restaurants.
If you decide to see Reims on your adventure from Paris to Champagne, I highly recommend this tour. Not only does it transport you in style, but you get to see the city center, tour the cathedral, sample lunch in-town, and visit two of the most famous Champagne maisons.
If you want to visit independently, the Maison Mumm is just a 15-minute stroll from the train station, perfect for a stretch and fresh air after the train ride. Maison Mumm is rich with history and regal elegance, and has been making champagne for nearly 200 years.
While in Reims, I also recommend visiting Notre-Dame, the gorgeous gothic cathedral in the city center. Constructed from the 13th-15th centuries, it is historically significant as the site of the coronation of 26 French kings. Its also the cathedral famously taken by Joan of Arc during the Hundred Years War that returned control of the city to France and gave the young dauphin Charles the crown in 1429.
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How To Visit Top Champagne Houses
Research first, book all visits ahead and build your itinerary. You can drive around Reims and Épernay or take taxis between the houses. Some visits can be booked and paid for online, such as Moët & Chandon visit or a visit to Veuve Clicquot.
Tour prices per person range anywhere between 8 euros per visit to around 70 euros per visit at more prestigious houses. Prices depend on the tasting package you pick how many glasses of Champagne, and whether you choose vintage or non-vintage samples. Most tours are in offered in groups. You can also ask for a private VIP tour.
Some of these top houses offer exclusive meals at the domaine, sometimes right in the cellars. Some of the house top management will dine with you.. Ask your Champagne private tour guide to arrange this for you.
If you are travelling on your own, you could visit one or two big houses such as Pommery, Ruinart, Louis Roederer , Martel, Taittinger, Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon, and a small producer. Smaller houses to visit: Domaine Guy Charbaut, Champagne JL Vergnon, Alfred Gratien, Champagne Dom Caudran and many others.
However, I do not recommend to visit more than 2-3 visits during the day. Plan your visit carefully, and consider that some producers are in the countryside, and taxi fares between destinations can add up.
How Much Is The Train Ticket From Paris To Champagne
The cheapest tickets we’ve found for trains from to Champagne-Ardenne are US$14.63.
If you book 30 days in advance, tickets will cost around US$25, while the price is around US$21 if you book 7 days in advance.Booking on the day of travel is likely to be more expensive, so it’s worth booking ahead of time if you can, or check our .
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Guided Tours To The Champagne Region From Paris
The most common type of tour from Paris to the Champagne Region will be a guided day trip excursion. Meet your group at a pickup point in the city and enjoy transport in an airconditioned bus. Youll spend the day with 20-30 other tourists and will visit several wineries. Lunch is usually not included.
From Paris To The Champagne Region By Train/public Transport
There is a direct train connection from Paris to Champagne-Ardenne, located outside of Reims. The service is operated by TGV, Frances high-speed rail service.
Get on the train at Gare lEst station in Paris and enjoy the 40-minute non-stop journey to the Champagne Region. This is by far the fastest way to get to Reims from Paris.
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Organized Tours Or Do It Yourself
Given Champagnes fame, you can expect a ton of organized tours that pick you up from Paris for the day. Given its popularity, these tours can book months in advance, especially for the summer months when the vineyards are their most vibrant right before the harvest. These tours are also quite expensive at 200-300 euros per person or so for just the day trip.
I was actually planning to visit The Palace of Versailles until I realized they were closed on Mondays. We decided to visit Champagne the night before so obviously booking a tour was out of the question. This is Europe however, and the transport is fantastic all over so there is absolutely no need to book a tour to visit Champagne. Doing this tour on our own was incredibly easy and this was easily one of the highlights of my time in France. Of course I would always recommend to rent a car and properly explore the region over the course of a few days like I did while visiting the Tuscany wine region of Italy but it just wasnt in the cards for this trip.
As I planned this trip last minute, I did everything on my own. The rest of this post will be for those looking to plan this trip on their own, or just to have a general idea of what the Champagne region is like.
The Region Has An Incredible Past So Dont Forget To Indulge In History Too
Because of its geographical position between many different countries, the region has seen a lot of history, particularly in the form of war. The Romans defeated the Huns in Champagne in 451 A.D., many battles of the Hundred Years War took place there, and it was bombed repeatedly during both World Wars. In fact, the caves of Veuve Clicquot were once used as a hospital during World War I and the remnants of a hospital cross are still visible on the cave walls. And Reims is actually the place where Eisenhower and the Allies received the German surrender on May 7, 1945.
Reims is also home to the Notre Dame de Rems Cathedral, where the coronation of every French king has taken place, and the Abbey of Saint Remi, the largest Romanesque pilgrimage church in northern France.
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Moet & Chandon Champagne Excursion
“I am drinking stars,” exclaimed Dom Pérignon, the legendary monk who may have discovered champagne. On this lively day tour from Paris, you visit Moët & Chandon to learn about the growing, harvesting, making, and tasting of champagne. You’ll also visit the monk’s final resting spot, set amongst the vineyards. Finally, you’ll stop at a small, family champagne house to taste even more bubbles!
Find The Best Itinerary For Your Bubbly Champagne Trip
There are quite a few options on how to travel to Reims and how to fill your day. It can be quite confusing but I summed up 4 options that seem to be the most logical.
What you pick depends on your travel style do you appreciate traveling with a group or are you more the independent traveler? and of course: your budget.
If you plan to visit the Champagne on a budget, book your train tickets early to get some low-fare tickets. If you reserve only one Champagne tasting and have a budget lunch, your Champagne day trip will be probably around 80 per person. But thats really the bare minimum.
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Visiting The Les Grandes Marques
If visiting Reims with an organized tour is not really your cup of tea, you can certainly visit the headquarters and cellars of the big Champagne Houses, Les Grandes Marques, on your own.
The big houses are offering guided visits that you simply can sign up for online. Below I put together a list of the most popular ones. Just keep in mind that they are not necessarily in the center of Reims and you need to organize your own transportation. There are busses and trams circulating in Reims, or you just get a taxi.
Or you walk from the center to Veuve Clicquot, its around 40min on foot.
Paris To Reims By Car
Time: 1,5 hours
Paris to Reims by train is so straightforward that we recommend taking the car only if Reims is part of a multi-day Champagne road trip. Leaving Paris by car is always crazy, plus finding a parking spot in Reims, near the top sights, is challenging and expensive.
On the other side, Reims by car will allow you to buy as many boxes of good champagne as you want!
Dont you have a car? Use DiscoverCars.com to find the best deals. The site covers the major and local brands and makes a price comparison for you. This helps to ensure that you get a great price
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Book Your Tgv Ticket At The Best Price
There are a number of ways to save on your TGV ticket from Champagne-Ardenne TGV to Paris . Family and friends travelling together can buy four tickets for the price of three, and kids under four go free so long as they sit on your lap. Tickets are available 90 days prior to departure with greater discounts the sooner you book so get planning your trip! The Interrail Pass can be a great money-saving option for those travelling extensively through France.
Can I Take My Bike On Sncf Trains
You can take your bike on any SNCF train as long as theres space available.
TER its free to take your bike on TER trains, they have dedicated bicycle spaces youll need to put them in, although its on a first come first served basis so there may not always be space.
TGV if you have a folding bike, you can take it with you for free and store it in its case. If you dont have a folding bike, youll need to book a space for it when you book your ticket .
OUIGO you can take your folding bike on board OUIGO trains and store it in its case, but youll need to pay around 5.
Intercités you can take your bike on board Intercités trains for an additional fee of 10.
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Mot & Chandon And Dom Perignon
Moët & Chandon have the largest cellars in Champagne with 28 kilometers of tunnels that hold 100 million bottles of Champagne. They are by far the the worlds largest and most famous producers of Champagne. At Moët & Chandon 2 tasting options are possible : if you book the CLASSIC option you will receive one glass of Champagne and if you book the SUPERIOR option you will receive two glasses of two different Champagne. No matter the tour option you choose for Moët & Chandon, the rest of the tour is strictly identical. Youll be asked which tour option you want during the online booking process. The SUPERIOR option is only available between April and October.
On your way back into Paris well make a special stop so that you can pay your respects to Dom Perignon, the father of Champagne. Dom Perignons grave is in a small hillside village with gorgeous views overlooking the Marne river and the vineyards around it. There your guide will explain the legend of the humble monk who perfected the Champagne making process.
How To Get To The Vineyards Of Champagne
The main vineyard areas are shown in purple on the map with the largest concentration–the Marne Valley, the Mountain of Reims, and the Cote de Blancs–around Reims and Epernay. Reims is the biggest city in the area so tends to be where most visitors head to. It also has a nice cathedral, so it’s worth visiting in its own right.
- From Paris: You can take the train from Paris to Reims. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes. You sometimes need to change in Champagne-Ardennes or Epernay. There are trains from around 8am, with the last train back at around 8pm.
- See also: Interactive Rail Map of France
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A Custom Itinerary Makes Paris To Champagne A Breeze
A day trip to sample the effervescent loveliness of Champagne makes sense for so many reasons. Its close by and easily accessible. The towns are very walkable. There are so many great places to see, the food is as varied and delicious as the wines, and the generally-cooler weather can provide a nice break from city heat in summer.
With a custom-designed itinerary, all the details down to the last bubble are taken care of: any needed transportation, train and tour tickets, tasting reservations, dinner reservations so once you know what you want to experience, Ill take care of the rest, and all you have to do is show up and raise your glass. À votre santé!
SAVE TIME. AVOID FRUSTRATIONS. EXPERIENCE A BETTER VACATION.
Cassie Tetro
Sip Your Way Through The French Countryside And Visit Local Champagne Houses Reims And Pernay
See All 25 Reviews 10.00h 18 maxParis,
Want to taste authentic champagne directly from the source? Then join this day trip from Paris and explore the beautiful countryside of the Champagne region! Youll visit two expert champagne makers to try the finest local varieties, as well as the charming cites of Reims and Épernay, and the Abbey of Hautvillersthought to be the birthplace of champagne. With a small group and friendly local guide, its the perfect way to escape the city and really get to know Frances iconic sparkling wine.
Tour Details
- Small group tour from Paris
- Drive through the French countryside
- See the famous cathedral of Riems
- Learn the secrets of champagne
- Explore Épernay and Abbey of Hautvillers
- Tastings at two renowned champagne houses
- Return to Paris for the evening
After meeting your local guide and small group in central Paris, you’ll board a comfortable vehicle for the scenic drive into the idyllic French countryside. Your first stop in the Champagne Region is the important city of Reimshome to a magnificent cathedral that you’ll explore. Later the tour will take you to see the Abbey of Hautvillers and beautiful Épernay, where you’ll have free time to explore and buy lunch.
During the day, you’ll also visit two beloved local champagne houses, where you’ll learn about the champagne making process and sample some their fine varieties, along with some light snacks.
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Research What Champagne Houses You Want To Visit Beforehand
There are a ton of Champagne Houses in the region, so have an idea which ones you want to visit before you go. This will help decide if to go Reims, Épernay or both. Épernay is home to Mercier, Moët & Chandon who also owns Dom Pérignon while Reims hosts Veuve Clicquot , Mumm and Tattinger . Wikipedia has a helpful list of houses here or Reims Tourism lists houses. Reservations can be made at most Champagne houses online beforehand.
Bonus tip: With good food comes good wine. In the case of Champagne, its the opposite: with good wine, comes good food. Champagne is home to a dozen Michelin-rated restaurants, so make reservations for those before heading there, too.
