My mom and I will be on holiday in Paris in September and would like to take a day trip to the champagne region. I'm trying to decide between Reims and Epernay. Which do you prefer? We would like to do a few champagne tours as well as do a little wandering and have a nice lunch. We will not have a car and will be taking the train, I'm not sure if that will factor in or not. Thanks for your thoughts!
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Epernay is kind of a sterile berg.
Reims is vibrant and worth the trip just for the cathedral.
I know nothing about champagne except that it comes from the area. To me all wine factories look alike.
Posted by
Grapevine, TX, USA
875 posts
It is simple to take the TGV from Paris to Reims -- don't know the logistics of getting from Paris to Epernay. We saw people in Reims renting a car for the day to go there. Reims is a fun place to visit and easy to take in some champagne tours. Be sure to see their Notre Dame cathedral -- beautiful and less crowded than ND in Paris.
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
If you can visit only one of the two, without a doubt choose Reims for the reasons already stated.
The two towns are only 17 miles apart.
About the only reason to visit Epernay is to see Moet et Chandon, one of the oldest and largest champagne houses. They are the makers of Dom Perignon. The tour of their cellars is terrific. They are in Epernay.
Posted by
Portland, OR
1124 posts
I was in Reims last September and loved all of the Champagne tasting, site seeing, restaurants, etc. Be sure to see if you can get a tour at Martel. It is one of the small, family operated Champagne producers. The tours of the chalk caves were great.
For food: we loved Foch. It is a single star Michelin restaurant and was our splurge meal. Intoxicating and wonderful!
Posted by
OP
Halifax, N.S.
211 posts
Thanks everyone, looks like Reims it is!