Champagne region

We start our road trip close to the Belgian border in the French Ardennes. The common thread here is the river Meuse that winds through the many forests. Rocroi is a little town fortified by Vauban and situated in the middle of the rièzes - the swamps. A striking feature of Rocroi is the star-shaped fortification around the city. The French Ardennes were often hit by invasions, hence the many fortifications. In the museum in Rocroi, you will learn everything about the battle of 1643 against the Spanish. Nice villages in the area are undoubtedly Revin, Haybes, Fumay and Givet, where you can visit the fortress that Charles V had built. While driving, pay attention to the remains of large Roman fortifications. Monthermé is situated in a bend of the river Meuse and is known for its beautiful landscapes and views. Certainly Roche à Sept Heures offers a very nice view on the city and the surrounding nature. Don't forget to hike to Roc-la-Tour, the huge boulders look like ruins of a castle, but they are not. Legend has it that the boulders bear witness to an unfinished construction that was sabotaged by none other than the devil himself.

Monthermé has a cosy little port and l'Abbaye de Laval Dieu is also worth a visit. A little outside the city is Château-Regnault and le Monument des Quatre Fils Aymon, a tribute to one of the most famous legends of the Ardennes: the Vier Heemskinderen.

After Sedan, we drive straight to Reims and really enter the Champagne region. Before we dive into the wine cellars, we visit the beautiful town. Reims is known for its sumptuous cathedral, which is also one of the largest in France. Already in the 3rd century, Reims had a bishop. Clovis had himself baptised in the cathedral around the year 500 and thus became the first Christian king of the Franks. Since then, Reims has been a coronation city and remained so until 1825. Palais du Tau or Palais des Archevêques was specially built in the Middle Ages to receive the court on the occasion of a coronation. Throughout time, the palace was restored and rebuilt several times in the style of the time. Now the palace houses the church treasury and some original statues from the cathedral. Tip: the rose window in the cathedral is at its most beautiful towards the end of the afternoon when the light is perfect. In Reims, you can also visit the Basilique St-Rémy and the monastery of the same name. Villa Demoiselle by Louis Sorel is also a must. This masterpiece on the border of Art Nouveau and Art Deco shows the more worldly pleasures. The reception room has no less than 3000 reproductions of champagne bottles!

After Reims, it is time to explore the surroundings. The road through the Massif de Saint-Thierry is interspersed with vineyards, forests and small villages closely associated with the coronations of French kings. The area offers numerous wine cellars and houses with the "Vignobles & Découvertes" label, which reveal the secrets of their champagne during a tasting. In the Massif de Saint-Thierry, mainly red wines were produced. In the 6th century, a student of Saint-Remi, Thierry, founded a monastery in the hamlet of 'Mont d'Hor'. The monastery flourished for 13 centuries and had a positive influence on the surrounding villages. The development of the vineyards was a fact. When you drive through the small town of Saint-Thierry, be sure to stop at the old abbey. We continue our trip along the vineyards and villages. Hermonville is a cosy place full of colourful flowers. You can also visit the British Military Cemetery. Cormicy, on the edge of the Aisne, was completely destroyed during the First World War. Only the symbolic buildings were rebuilt. The town is completely surrounded by champagne vineyards. Through the winding roads we descend to Sarcy and the Parc naturel régional de la Montagne de Reims.

From Epernay, follow the Côte des Blancs route past several villages and vineyards. Admire the beautiful 18th century mansions in Pierry. One of the houses was opened by the man of letters Jean Cazotte to the great writers, philosophers and artists of his time. In Cuis and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, you will find beautiful churches. In the latter village lived Léon Bourgeois, Nobel Peace Prize winner (1920). Oger is one of the 'most beautiful villages of France'. Here, you will find the extraordinary Musée des Traditions de l'Amour et du Champagne. Vertus is the birthplace of Eustache Deschamps, the most popular French poet of the 14th century. Close to Bergères-les-Vertus, there is Mont Aimé, from where you have an impressive view of the area. The hill was the site of prehistoric settlements, and the Gauls and the Romans also set up camp there. The hill served to burn the Cathars of the Champagne region in 1239. Finally, the route takes us to the busier town of Sézanne. Nearby is the forest of Traconne, where you can go for a nice walk and discover the quiet countryside that was so dear to the writer Marcel Proust.

Aube and Champagne together form the southern champagne region and is called the Côte des Bar. For a long time, the champagne producers of the Marne looked down on the region, but today, the Côte des Bar accounts for almost a quarter of the champagne production. So this champagne region should not be missed on our road trip. The region is less covered with vineyards. They are interspersed with small villages, forests and fields. Because the region is less touristy than the Marne, the champagne is generally cheaper and you can almost literally sit at the table with the champagne producer. It is a more personal experience than in the Marne. The nicest villages in this region are probably Bar-sur-Seine with beautiful old streets, Essoyes where the painter Renoir stayed, les Riceys with the old mansions, Mussy-sur-Seine and Noë-les-Mallets. You can relax in nature by the lakes of the Forêt d'Orient. The 5000 hectares of water surface consists of three large lakes that form the heart of the Regional Nature Park. In the largest lake, Lac d'Orient, areas have been set up for swimming and sailing. It is the main bird reserve of the park.