ReimsStory N° 40
Champagne Trail — Reims & Épernay
Reims cathedral, deep cellars beneath Épernay, lunch at a small grower's table — Champagne the way locals drink it.
The itinerary.
3 days · 10 stops
Friday
Day One
TGV to Reims, the Coronation cathedral, first cellar tour at Veuve Clicquot, dinner near Place du Forum.
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Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims
Coronation site of 33 French kings (Clovis, Charles VII with Joan of Arc) — Chagall stained glass in the apse, UNESCO listed cathedrale-reims.fr
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Veuve Clicquot Cellars
Chalk crayères 18m underground — 24km of galleries dug into Roman quarries. Book the Yellow Label tour 2 weeks ahead veuveclicquot.com
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Le Foch
1-Michelin-star opposite the train station — seasonal menu, deep champagne list by the glass lefoch.com
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Hotel
Domaine Les Crayères — château-hotel in 7-hectare park, 5m drive from Veuve Clicquot lescrayeres.com
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Getting around
- TGV from Paris Gare de l'Est → Reims-Centre ~46m direct (~€30 with advance booking)
- Reims is walkable centre to centre — 15m from cathedral to Veuve Clicquot, 20m from station to centre
- Pick up a rental car at Reims-Centre Hertz for Day 2 (~€60/day)
Saturday
Day Two
Drive to Épernay, walk Avenue de Champagne, deep tour at Mercier or Moët, late lunch at La Briqueterie.
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Avenue de Champagne
1km of grand Maisons — Moët & Chandon, Pol Roger, Perrier-Jouët, De Castellane. Most ornate single street in champagne country (UNESCO)
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Moët & Chandon Imperial Cellars
28km of cellars under Épernay — Imperial tour includes a Brut tasting + Rosé Impérial pour at the end moet.com
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Mercier Cellars
Underground laser-guided train tour — kid-friendly alternative to Moët, includes the giant 200,000-bottle barrel champagnemercier.com
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La Briqueterie
1-Michelin-star inside the Royal Champagne ecosystem — seasonal tasting menu, perfect lunch stop between visits labriqueterie.com
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Hotel
Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa — vineyard views from Champillon ridge, 8m drive from Épernay royalchampagne.com
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Getting around
- Reims → Épernay ~30m via D951 — vineyards on both sides toward Cumières
- Park at Place de la République (Épernay) — 200m walk to Avenue de Champagne
- Champillon → Royal Champagne Hotel ~5m up the ridge after dinner
Sunday
Day Three
Hautvillers — Dom Pérignon's village — small grower visit, brunch on the terrace, train home.
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Hautvillers Abbey
Where the Benedictine monk Dom Pérignon spent 47 years perfecting champagne — abbey, his tomb, vineyard views down the Marne valley
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Champagne J. Lassalle
Small family grower in Chigny-les-Roses (Premier Cru) — 3-generation, women-led house. Tastings by appointment, far fewer tourists than Épernay champagne-j-lassalle.com
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Brunch at Le Vintage
Épernay terrace overlooking Avenue de Champagne — lighter Sunday brunch with a Blanc de Blancs flight
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Hotel
Royal Champagne — checkout after the spa morning
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Getting around
- Épernay → Reims ~30m, drop rental at Reims-Centre Hertz
- TGV Reims → Paris Gare de l'Est ~46m direct
- Or stay on for a Sunday afternoon picnic at Hautvillers — return train ~18:30
Location.
Frequently asked
How many days do you need for Champagne Trail — Reims & Épernay?
3 days. The itinerary runs from Friday to Sunday and covers 10 curated stops across 3 days.
How much does Champagne Trail — Reims & Épernay cost?
Premium — €300–600 per day per person, premium lodging included.
Where do you stay during Champagne Trail — Reims & Épernay?
Domaine Les Crayères — château-hotel in 7-hectare park, 5m drive from Veuve Clicquot is the recommended base for the trip; the full hotel list per day is in the itinerary section.
What's included in the Champagne Trail — Reims & Épernay itinerary?
Day-by-day stops at 10 restaurants, museums, viewpoints and landmarks; transportation hints between each leg; and a hotel base in Reims.
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