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Help with Champagne itinerary

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My wife and I will be traveling to the Champagne region mid-March for 4-5 nights (renting a car and driving either from Versailles or Paris). We plan to have a car for the duration so we can explore. Reims and Epernay sound like the obvious choices for the highlights but I'm interested in recommendations for an itinerary and places to stay that are relatively close to these cities but are perhaps more unique and offer affordable luxury.

Are there some "must see" small villages, chateaux, etc. in these areas we should consider? Any recommendations on accommodations (open to hotels, chateux, villas, etc.)?

Are priorities are relaxing, amazing food, beautiful vineyard scenery and visiting a few Champagne houses (but not going wild with tastings and tours).

Posted by
6901 posts

If you stay in Paris before going to Champagne, do not rent the car in Versailles which is in the opposite direction. Gare de Lyon would be the best rental location: you'll have to drive 2 blocks on city streets before hitting the Quai de Bercy expressway towards the A4 Eastern motorway: it is very easy. Or, you could take the train from Gare de l'Est to Reims and rent a car there: the train ride is very fast, faster than the drive.

As for highlights: with 4 days you could visit Verdun (WWI history) or Troyes (beautifully preserved medieval town), besides Reims and Épernay.

There is plenty of vineyard-centric accommodation between Reims and Épernay. If you can afford Château de Rilly (which is far, far from being the most expensive option), it would be a very good match for your desires! Do be aware that vineyards look barren in mid-March though: rows of sticks! I would perhaps consider a hotel in one of the towns: Épernay, for example.

Posted by
1321 posts

We found the folks at the TI in Epernay very helpful. They directed us to places we would not have even known about. I would say however that amazing food is not a highlight of the region. We preferred to stay in Epernay over Reims, but both are lovely. One thing we learned is that you do not have to take the tour to visit the tasting rooms for many of the wineries, but my favorite tour was Taittinger. There are many lovely wineries on the Avenue de Champagne.

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