Fancy a city break or romantic trip with your loved one ?
Visit Epernay - Capital of Champagne !
Epernay the Capital of Champagne is nestled in the valley of the Heart of Champagne and surrounded by rolling hills of luscious vineyards and villages that produce the world’s favourite bubbly – Champagne! Home to many of the most famous Champagne houses, this is undoubtably one of the top places to visit their famous cellars and sample their delicious Champagne.
Take a romantic stroll down the renowned avenue de Champagne, in the centre of Epernay, and admire the stunning neoclassical and early 19th century architecture of its many Champagne House mansions and villas and their landscaped gardens. The avenue, deemed to be possibly the most expensive real estate in the world, comprises over 110 kilometres of cellars and house in excess of 200 million bottles of Champagne!
Along the avenue be sure to stop off at the impressive, newly refurbished Château Perrier, built in 1854 and once seat of the Perrier family home. Set in luscious grounds it is now the Champagne Wine and Regional Archaeology Museum (Musée du vin de Champagne et d’Archéologie régionale).
Located at the bottom of the avenue de Champagne, the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) was originally a former private mansion dating from the 19th century, owned by the Auban-Moët family. The house, built in 1858, is listed as a Historic Monument set in a magnificent municipal park and was transferred to the town of Epernay in 1919.
Opposite the Town Hall on avenue de Champagne, is the iconic base of Moët & Chandon, the producers of the iconic Vintage Champagne – Dom Pérignon named after the Benedictine monk Dom Pierre Pérignon, dubbed the father of Champagne who perfected the process of producing Champagne as we know it today with a second in-bottle fermentation which adds magical sparkle to the bubbly we now enjoy.
Epernay is also an excellent place to base yourself to discover the Champagne Tourist Route (by car, by bike or hiking) through the vineyards and surrounding villages of the Champagne region.
Grab a Guided Tour and Maximise your visit to Champagne!
Spirit of Champagne (Esprit de Champagne) at the Epernay in Champagne Tourist Office
Free Champagne tastings at the tourist office and the option to visit the Champagne producers’ vineyards in an 8-seater shuttle bus, departing from both the Tourist Office and the local Epernay campsite.
Epernay Gourmand (Gourmet Epernay) :
The Town Hall, the Orangery of Jean-Rémi Moët, the Château Perrier… Discover the prestigious Avenue de Champagne with a guide from the Tourist Office, who will help you discover its history and secrets. At the end of the visit, a well-deserved gourmet treat will await you, in a champagne house located on the famous avenue. Enjoy a flute of champagne and a delicious sweet or savoury treat at the end of this sociable tour which will delight your taste buds!
Content :
1.5 hour visit = 1 hour on the Avenue de Champagne with a guide from the Tourist Office + 30 minutes of tasting in a Champagne house.
Language : English only.
10 people maximum.
Prices :
Adult €28 / for under 18s: €15 / under 5s: free
When :
Precise dates and times during the summer season (July to September), to be defined with the Champagne house partners.
Partners :
- Champagne Elodie D
- Champagne André Bergère
- Champagne De Venoge
Where to buy tickets:
At the Tourist Office reception on Avenue de Champagne or on their website
Please note :
Reservations close 24 hours before (to allow enough time to notify partners)
from July to September
1 hour in the heart of the avenue :
Meet at 3:00 p.m. inside the Epernay in Champagne Tourist Office, at n°7 avenue de Champagne.
Aurélie, your guide, will accompany you for 1 hour as you discover the history and architecture of the buildings that line this famous thoroughfare, which since 2015 is part of the Hillsides, Houses and Cellars of Champagne inscribed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
Over more than a kilometre, our “Champs Elysées” boasts a succession of splendid castles and mansions, many of which are the headquarters of top Champagne Houses. These exceptional places illustrate, every day, the refinement and heritage of Champagne.
Flanking both sides of this long avenue, Champagne houses and private mansions follow one another to form a remarkable ensemble. Paved main courtyards, elaborate facades and even landscaped gardens, all these details tell a little of the history of Champagne, from the flourishing era of the first Champagne trading houses to modern day.
In the cellars of the Champagne houses along the avenue, millions of bottles of champagne are stored in ideal conditions in these extensive underground galleries which were dug into the chalk rock – a form of limestone.
Why not add a 30-minute extension to the guided tour and head towards the city centre where you will discover the Sparnacian heritage of the natives of Epernay.
This visit is accessible to people with hearing impairments.
PRICES: Adult €8.50 / for under 18s: €4.50 / under 5s: free
SPOKEN LANGUAGES: French and English
FROM JULY TO SEPTEMBER
Art & Champagne
Aurélie, your guide, will accompany you on an unusual walking tour celebrating the marriage between Champagne and contemporary art. During this walk, you will have the opportunity to admire the numerous Champagne Houses, castles and mansions which extend over more than a kilometre along the famous Avenue de Champagne. You will learn more about the birth and evolution of this artery which, since 2015, has been part of the Hillsides, Houses and Cellars of Champagne inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Finally, you will discover durable artworks from the Vign’Art Festival, a true declaration of love for land art.
Duration one hour.
Please note:
This tour is in French language only.
some more ideas
Grab a Guided Tour and Maximise your visit to Champagne!
- My Vintage Tour Company
Guided tours in vintage French vehicles.
https://www.epernay-tourisme.com/en/activite/my-vintage-tour-company/
- Festi’Vallée
Guided Buggy rides.
https://www.epernay-tourisme.com/en/activite/festivallee/
- A la française
Guided Tours, Bike Tours and Team Building.
https://www.epernay-tourisme.com/en/activite/a-la-francaise-champagne/
- Ay Champagne Experience
Private guided tours and experiences.
https://www.aychampagneexperience.com/en/home/
- The imperial of Marie-Antoinette
Guided tours in an open top, double decker bus.
https://imperiale-marie-antoinette.fr/en/
- ABC Champagne Tour
Guided Bicycle or Van tours in Champagne.
https://abc-champagne-tour.com/?lang=en
- Pedal n Pop!
Moped and eBike rental offering a delivery service.
https://www.pedalnpop.com/accueil-home
And don’t forget to follow the well signposted “Route Touristique du Champagne” around the region and stop off to meet the winegrowers directly along the way!
Simply the Best Champagne Tastings
Gastronomy and Local Produce
- Picnic and Champagne Tastings with Moët et Chandon
https://www.moet.com/en-gb/visit-us
- Picnic and Champagne Tastings with Champagne Vollereaux
https://www.champagne-vollereaux.fr/en/the-vollereaux-experience/
- Luxurious Chocolate in Champagne
Treat yourself to chocolate heaven from some of the top Chocolatiers in France.
https://www.epernay-tourisme.com/en/commerce/chocolaterie-thibaut/
https://www.chocolat-vincentdallet.fr/
- La Tête de Chou Craft Beer
Local Craft beer factory, bar and shop located in Epernay in an old wine building.
https://www.epernay-tourisme.com/en/commerce/brasserie-de-la-tete-de-chou/
The Foie Gras Experience
Champagne and Foie Gras pairings, biking and hiking in the area and spa treatments from this 3rd generation farm and guest house.
https://auberge-saint-fergeux.fr/
Champagne Julien Chopin
Champagne and Ratafia Champenois (Champagne liqueur) tasting, brunch and workshops.
https://champagnejulienchopin.com/en/book-your-experience/
Champagne Piot Sevillano
Champagne tour, tastings, gourmet picnics and workshops.
https://www.piot-sevillano.com/en/oenotourisme#regdl=categories
Champagne de Venoge
Champagne tasting and bar set in the grounds of a 19th century mansion with beautiful gardens on the avenue de Champagne.
https://www.epernay-tourisme.com/commerce/champagne-de-venoge/
total immersion
Don’t Miss Out on these Top Attractions and Experiences !
Bird’s eye view of the Champagne region in a micro-light plane or helicopter
Take to the air for a 30-minute breath-taking tour of the region.
https://www.epernay-tourisme.com/en/activite/les-ailes-sparnaciennes/
Hot air balloon flight at Champagne Cuillier
For a big Bucket List experience take a trip in a hot air balloon ride over the region.
https://www.champagne-cuillier.fr/en/montgolfiere-hot-air-balloon/
Champagne wine and regional Archeology Museum (Musée du vin de Champagne et d’Archeologie régionale)
Learn about the geology, archaeology, and history of the Champagne region in the museum housed in the sumptuous Castle Perrier, on avenue de Champagne, former home of the Perrier family.
https://www.epernay-tourisme.com/en/activite/musee-du-vin-de-champagne-et-darcheologie-regionale/
Pressoria
Learn about the history of Champagne production through an interactive experience using your 5 senses, a novel way to experience Champagne.
https://www.epernay-tourisme.com/en/activite/pressoria-voyage-sensoriel-au-coeur-de-la-champagne/
The Shell Cave
Guided tour of a Champagne cellar where ancient fossil shells were discovered.
https://www.epernay-tourisme.com/en/activite/la-cave-aux-coquillages/
Route of the Top Viewpoints
Tailor made itinerary of the best panoramic views. Choose from the Family Friendly route, Leisurely route, Bubble to Bubble route and the ‘Route du Champagne’.
https://www.epernay-tourisme.com/profiter/circuits-itineraires-balades/route-des-tops-points-de-vue/
