Champagne-Ardennes Holiday Guide
As the name indicates, Champagne-Ardenne is a region known world wide for its famous sparkling wine, Champagne. No visit to this region can be complete without exploring the famous Champagne trail that winds through wine-producing villages and cellars. However, there's much more to Champagne-Ardenne, than just the sparkling wine--- the region has its share of picturesque scenic views, fascinating architectural sights and of course the numerous gastronomical delights.
Absorb the best of what Champagne-Ardenne has to offer through the comfort of your vacation rental home. Ardennes, Anube, Marne and Haute-Marne are the four main departments under this region and they all offer a number of vacation rental options. You can take your pick from a range of vacation rental homes including cottages, gites, apartments and chalets and make your holiday that much more memorable.
Sightseeing in Champagne-Ardennes
- Notre-Dame Cathedral Reims
one of the main cities under the department of Ardennes, is home to the famous 13th century Notre-Dame Cathedral, famous for French royal coronations. This magnificent masterpiece played a vital role in 1429 when Joan of Arc was successful in getting Charles VII crowned. When visiting the cathedral, you must check out the stained glass windows and the giggling angels that run around the west side. - Chlons-en-Champagne
Capital of Marne, this pretty city is hailed as the 'Little Venice' for its numerous canals and riverside gardens. A boat ride is the ideal way to discover the hidden gems of this city. - The Champagne Routes
Covering about 220 kms, the Champagne Routes encompasses two main circuits. While the Route Tourstique du Champagne runs from the popular wine city of Remins to Villenauxe-la-Grande, the Route du Champagne dans l'Aube is nearby to Troyes and the valleys of Rivers Aube and Seine. - Troyes
Adorned with majestic medieval and Renaissance houses, narrow cobble streets bordered by wooden-frame buildings including a Gothic cathedral and churches, this town truly possesses a fairytale setting. A visit to this town is a must for those who would like to step back in time and relive a lifetime of a bygone era.
Dining in Champagne-Ardennes
Besides being famous for champagne, this region also shares passion for food and is known for serving a host of local delicacies such as an andouillette troyes, a tripe sausage and pote champenoise. The most famous cheese of the region is Chaource that traces its history to the 14th century.
Nightlife and Entertainment in Champagne-Ardennes
For most people, a visit to this region involves visiting as many vineyards as possible to taste not only the sparkling wine but also different kinds of red and white wines as well. Connoisseurs can definitely look forward to spending every waking moment in treating their palates to a range of vintages from the various vineyards such as Champagne de Barfontarc in Baroville; Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte and Champagne Mercier in Epernay; and Champagne G.H. Mumm in Reims among a host of other wine estates and vineyards. When not tasting wines, you can always enjoy a live concert or jive away the night at the nearby night club or mingle with the locals at the various pubs and bars.
Golfing in Champagne-Ardennes
Champagne-Ardennes is fast gaining popularity as a golfing destination. Avid golfers can take their pick from 8 different golf courses. One of the last remaining forts along the Maginot Line also features a golf course that is known for testing the skills of the golfers with its challenging course layout. Some of the popular golf courses include Golf Des Ardennes, Golf De L'Ermitage, Golf De Troyes, Golf De Reims Champagne and Golf De Chalons En Champagne.