We are traveling from Paris to the Champagne area for 3 nights. We will have 2 full days and our arrival and departure days (more like 1/2 days). Would appreciate recommendations on hotels to stay. Leaning towards Reims - considering La Caserne Chanzy. Would like to do a day in Epernay and a day visiting smaller producers. Please share any advice you have. Focus of the trip is on Champagne tasting with a bit of history. We love to walk. Will not have a car, but plan to hire driver for one day.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
3772 posts
I don't have any specific recs for lodgings, but do not miss the cathedral in Reims. Aside from being a beautiful Gothic masterpiece, nearly every king of France was crowned there. Talk about history! Also, less than a mile away is the Musee de la Reddition, where Germany signed the surrender papers at the end of WWII. And near the Gare de Reims is the Porte de Mars, a Roman arch. You have a nearly 2000 year stretch of history in one small area of a small city.....Roman, Medieval, and modern. You could easily explore all three in your two half days.
Re day trips....Hautvillers is where Dom Perignon is interred, at the Abbey of St. Peter. A lovely spot, and the views of the vineyards from the grounds are wonderful. Do try to include Hautvillers on your vineyard-visiting day. We actually had a picnic on the grass looking out over the valley from there. (I don't think it was verboten, but we were the only people there, there were no signs, and we left not a breadcrumb.) It was a very serence stop on our drive.
Posted by
1 posts
We are also going for 3 nights in early Dec and trying to figure out a hotel. My sister stayed at la Caserne Chanzy last year and said it was lovely. I am on the fence due to the cost as given how little time we will send in the room. Hoping to see if anyone has a better suggestion that is in a good walkable location and upscale, just without a luxury price point.