Guided Tours of the Reims Champagne Region

Going to Paris is an opportunity to discover other regional specialties and a rich cultural diversity around the capital city that has contributed to France’s international reputation. Champagne is a type of wine that everyone in the world associates with France, and the delicious sparkling nectar is also associated with parties and the French spirit.

Our tours in Champagne from Paris

Why not take a side trip to the Champagne region with ParisCityVision to see where the famous elixir is produced? Only a few hours away from Paris, Champagne is really worth the journey! Book your day trip on an air-conditioned luxury bus and enjoy the day admiring the lush countryside of eastern France and its champagne vineyards. Your day will be organized so that you’ll learn as much as possible about champagne while taking the time to stroll around and discover the different towns of the region. In fact, you’ll also visit the Mumm Winery (the winery of one of the main brands of champagne in France), walk around downtown Reims, take a guided tour of the gothic cathedral in Reims where French kings were crowned and visit the Mercier Winery on an automated train with an audio guide (8 languages available). There’s more than enough to learn all about champagne, enjoy the vineyards, and treat yourself to a champagne tasting at some of the best regional producers.

A wide choice of tours in Champagne

For optimal comfort and hassle-free travels, you can also choose a package deal that includes minibus transfers to and from your hotel in Paris.

If you feel more like going on a day trip as a small group, you can choose the minibus option (up to 8 people) or even make it a private excursion. Your driver, an experienced tour guide-interpreter, will be more than pleased to recount the history of champagne and the surrounding region as well as give a little history on the Reims cathedral during the drive. The package deal includes pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in Paris, a visit to the cathedral, lunch at Epernay, a visit to the Moet and Chandon wineries with champagne tasting, as well as a visit to a regional wine producer to learn about how champagne is cultivated and produced.

Reims, capital of the Champagne region

Although the Reims Cathedral might not be what you first think about when imagining a day trip in Champagne, it’s nonetheless worth the detour. Dating from the 13th century, the cathedral played a key role in the history of France. It was where the Kings of France were crowned. Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its gothic-inspired architecture, its statues, and its stained-glass windows, the cathedral is a definite must-see on anyone’s trip to the Champagne region.

The Reims Opera

The Reims Opera, also known as the Grand Theatre of Reims, was inaugurated in 1873. With its seats spread out in a horseshoe-shape fashion, the Grand Theatre follows the norms established by Italian-style theatre (as was common in France throughout the Renaissance). Its decorative elements, however, took inspiration from the Art Deco movement. Some of the greatest classical works have been played on the stage of the Reims Opera. That said, the Opera also stages new, contemporary performances that come to life for the first time in an opera house known for its acoustics. The Opera program also proposes events for its public such as workshops for children and conferences for adults.

In champagne territory

If you want to visit wine country, Epernay is a good place to start. It is situated very well in relation to Champagne's tourist routes, allowing you to visit the various vineyards one after the other. You can go from wine cellar to wine cellar for tastings with the wine producers, who will passionately tell you about their craft.

Epernay is the third-most populous city of the department of Marne after Charleville-Mézières and Reims. Epernay has been an economic center of Champagne since the 18th century. The opening of champagne houses allowed economic activity to flourish.

Avenue du Champagne

In 1925, the shopping street was renamed Avenue du Champagne. It owes its name to the installation of champagne houses on this main route of Epernay. The first of them took its place there in 1729. Since then, it is tradition for champagne houses to be set up there. The most courageous will be able to travel the 60-plus miles of wine cellars in search of the best bottle. To be enjoyed in moderation, of course !

Avenue du Champagne has been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site since 2015.

Epernay is visited by many French and foreign tourists who wish to discover the region's wine heritage. The city is an excellent starting point for a wine-lover's visit. This is also where you'll be able to buy bottles directly from the various renowned champagne houses.

Specialities from Champagne

When they taste so darn good it’s understandable why culinary traditions in Champagne hold strong. 

The famous pink cookie from Reims has existed since the end of the 17th century. A cookie-cake baked twice over, it’s the most well-known aliment besides champagne. It’s famous pink color, thanks to carmine, is actually designed to hide the black spots that vanilla extract can leave on the surface of a cookie once baked. Despite their yumminess, the speckled look didn’t sit so well with consumers and so the cookie got its rosy tint!

You can eat the Reims pink cookie all by itself or, as some prefer, it can be used to make Charlotte cakes. Try dipping it in champagne or even in a glass of red wine!

Before getting to dessert, let’s move on to Reims’ famous regional dishes!

The White Blood Sausage from Rethel

Boudin blanc de Rethel, a white blood sausage minus the blood, is eaten as a main dish or as an appetizer. It goes perfectly well with champagne and unlike other boudins blancs is exclusively made of white pork meat and has no breadcrumbs. This specific preparation makes for a richly flavored and unctuous boudin.

Ham from Reims

Served cold, ham from Reims is deboned, molded, and made from pieces of pig shoulder and pallet. Veined in appearance and cut into cubes, it’s a common snack that can be eaten alone or served with a salad.

Champagne, history of an appellation

Synonymous with partying, champagne has become the must-have drink for all occasions. It’s not uncommon in France to cry out, “Get the champagne!” when someone announces good news. 

Believe it or not, champagne was initially not sparkling wine. It was simply called “wine of Champagne” between the 16th and 17th centuries. According to legend, the process that allowed the wine to have its effervescence was discovered by the Benedictine monk Dom Perignon (sound familiar?). His method, however, was approximative. Scientific advancements, such as the work of Louis Pasteur on fermentation, allowed for its effervescence to remain intact. Historically, Maison Ruinart is the first Champagne wine producer to propose sparkling champagne (1729).

The appellation “champagne” is highly regulated. It’s exactly this strict control and regulation that allows all the various producers to be recognized. The appellation guarantees a certain quality for the consumer while also ensuring its attractiveness and buying potential in overseas markets. Since 1941, the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC) has protected champagne and its makers.

The wine-growing region of Champagne reached its apogee during the 18th century when 50,000 hectares were cultivated. This number was significantly reduced following damages caused by the phylloxera disease and WWI. Today, the region totals around 33,000 hectares.

An appellation also delimits a geographic zone in which wine must be cultivated and produced. If production occurs outside of this specific region it cannot claim the appellation “champagne.”

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