2 Days Champagne Region Tour Package
Duration: 2 Days / 1 Night
Priced From: $1,854 pp dbl. occ.
Dates: May - Dec
This price includes:
**Private guide services (2 full days)
**Private transportation (2 full days, while with guide – includes petrol, parking, etc)
**Champagne tasting
**All taxes and fees
**...And a great time!
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Full-day tour of Reims + Epernay
Your private guide will take you for a fabulous day of exploring of the Champagne region.
Champagne is a traditional province of France and is best known for its vineyards and for the sparkling wine that bears it name. That effervescent libation, which to be called Champagne can only be produced within the province, was first produced around 1700. Today, you will explore Reims, the traditional capital and the largest city in Champagne. It was here, at the Cathedral Notre Dame de Reims, that the French kings were crowned, from the early Frankish King, Clovis to Louis XVI. It was to Reims that the teenage Joan of Arc brought the exiled French King Charles VII to be crowned, thus launching the French defeat of the British. Reims is a lovely town that lies along the banks of the Vesle River, a tributary of the Marne. Medieval architecture and spacious town squares make this picturesque town a delight to explore. Just at the edge of town is the Roman Porte de Mars, a triumphal arch, thought to have been built in the 3rd or 4th century. The town is surrounded by rolling foothills covered with rows and rows of grape vines. Here in Reims, we can arrange a champagne tasting at one of the big champagne houses or we can take you a one of the smaller growers, it is up to you! You will also visit to Epernay, located just southwest of Reims, along the banks of the Marne River. This small town is the world’s Champagne capital and home to some of the most recognizable names in wine, such as Veuve Cliquot, Tattinger, Perrier Jouet, and Moet et Chandon, where you will enjoy some more tastings! (Interesting fact - contrary to popular belief, it was not the Benedictine monk, Dom Perignon, who invented the sparkling wine, but he did advance the technology and it was he who created the unique cage and cork closure that we still associate with Champagne.) Most of these purveyors line the aptly named Avenue de Champagne in the center of town. Underneath Epernay lies over 120 kilometers of tunnels, called caves, carved out of the region’s chalky soil. These cellars hold over 200 million bottles of the effervescent wine, just waiting to come into their prime. A fascinating visit! We will arrange for you the fabulous Dom Perignon visit & tasting.
Day 2: Full day tour of Troyes + surrounds
This morning you will goto Troyes:
The city describes itself as "La cité en forme de bouchon de champagne" (trans: the city in the form of a champagne cork) although this is more noticeable from aerial views!
The town is said to have one of the finest medieval centres to be seen in France. Troyes lies conveniently in the heart of Aube en Champagne, so it is very centrally located. It’s a charming city with numerous museums, churches and medieval buildings.
**Musée d'Art Moderne (Museum of Modern Art): Housed in the former bishop's palace alongside the cathedral, this attractive, well-designed museum is the cultural centrepiece of the city. It contains over 2000 works of French art from the period 1850 to 1950, including pieces by Rodin, Dégas, Picasso and Seurat. In 1976, Pierre and Denise Lévy, an art loving couple, donated 2000 pieces to the museum. This unique collection includes Vlaminck, Braque, and mostly, Derain including his famous paintings of Hyde Park and Big Ben. Later, friends of the famous artist André Derain donated a further 80 paintings, drawings and sculptures from the artist. Also in the museum is a beautiful collection of African masks and carvings.
**Maison de l'Outil et de la Pensée Ouvrière (Tool Museum) Troyes most original tourist attraction, this fascinating museum of tools, including 17th, 18th and 19th century exhibits, provides an insight into the world of the workers who used them and the people who crafted them. This unique collection of over 8000 tools is the largest such display in the world.
**Cathédrale St Pierre et St Paul: This fine Gothic cathedral has 1500m² of stained glass dating from between the 13th to the 19th centuries. The Tower houses an interesting treasury.
**Sainte Madeleine Church: This 12th century church, the oldest in the city, was considerably remodelled in the 16th century when the delicate stonework rood screen (jubé) – used to keep the priest separate from the congregation – was added; it’s one of the few remaining in France. Also worth viewing is the statue of St Martha, a typical example of Troyes 16th century art.
Troyes was once the home of the Counts of Champagne and, in the Middle Ages, drew huge crowds to its famous fairs. Today it is known as the "holy city of stained glass" because it boasts a large number of beautiful stained glass windows dating from the 13th to the 19th century. These are on view in the cathedral and nine churches in the town – all of which are worth visiting.
In the old quarter closely packed 16th century half-timbered wood and stone mansions surround the delightful courtyards and line the narrow streets and alleys as well as the main square with its lovely fountains. This is where everybody gathers throughout the day for drinks at the pavement cafes, and returns to again in the evenings to dine. Troyes is also a paradise for shopaholics with 100 factory outlets offering huge discounts on designer goods. It has always been an important fashion centre and is currently France’s leading knitwear producer. And just outside of Troyes, you will find the area of "Les Grandes Lacs" which lies to the east and is especially popular with the locals. This is a vast nature park containing the Forest of Orient and three huge lakes offering a whole range of water sports. And if you want to venture to Cirey-sur-Blaise you can follow in the footsteps of the writer and philosopher Voltaire who wrote many of his works whilst living here.
"Please note: These are sample itineraries! All of our tours are tailor-made to the clients - we can organize tours for any amount of days, with any interest in mind, at any pace, anywhere in France."
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12/09
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