My mom and I took a trip to the Champagne region of France with our tiny tourists. We visited cathedrals, drank champagne and even found a carousel to ride on!
The French region of Champagne is located in the northeast of France. Only about an hour train ride from Paris it is a great option for a day trip during a visit to Paris. It is home to gothic cathedrals, museums, quaint shops and Champagne of course!
We stayed and spent most of our time in the incredibly beautiful city of Reims, France. We spent a day walking around Reims and taking in the adorable shops from clothing to wine and visiting the Cathédral Notre-Dame Reims. The kids ran around the square, chased some pigeons and ate some ice cream.
The second day we drove to Epernay for the tastiest part of our trip, a champagne tour. If you’re traveling with kids you want to go on the Mercier Champange Tour. It was recommended to me by almost everyone I talked to. Definitely book online in advanced to make sure you get a spot because weekends in particular will sell out. You start the tour with a short video about Mercier and the evolution of the company. After that you are taken down an elevator to the champagne caves where you take a train ride through the caves and store rooms. Everyone is given audio guides and it really has some interesting information about how champagne is made and stored. Also, what kid doesn’t like trains??
Our walking route in Reims:
We stayed in a booking.com apartment near Place du Forum. The area was full of cafes, restaurants, wine caves and cute little food shops to find anything you could ever need. It also has an outdoor amphitheater where you can listen to and watch live concerts while you sip on your beverage of choice.
We walked along the Rue de l’Arbalète lined with clothing shops for men women and children, until we reached the Fontaine Subé. On either side of the fountain are about a thousand places to eat and every kind of food you can think of. To the left(southeast) is the Place Drouet d’Erlon. This is the dandelion-like fountain featured in almost every post about Reims.
Just a few hundred meters from this on the Rue Condorcet is my daughter’s favorite attraction in any city, a carousel! She’s like a bloodhound with those things and can find them anywhere, but for a few euro and 10 minutes, we can easily and quickly make her day.
From here it’s about a 5 minute walk to the Cathédrale Notre-Dame Reims. Just continue on the Rue Condorcet, take a right on the Rue de Talleyrand, passing an adorable toy store on your right and take one last left on the Rue Rockefeller. You’ll pass many wine and souvenir shops along your way if you are looking for anything to take home and if you want something sweet, they eat special rosé biscuits with their champagne! If you have some extra time after the cathedral, you should visit the Palais du Tau as it is right next door.
Things to do in Reims:
The first stone was laid in 1211, but the cathedral was not finished until 1516. It was the location of the coronation of 25 Kings of France from Louis VIII in 1223 to Charles X in 1825. Its history is full of hardships, both during the build and the two World Wars.
Because of the importance that the region held for all frenchmen(and women) it was a main strategic target of both World Wars. During WWI it was hit heavily with artillery, the cathedral in particular, leaving it heavily damaged. Inside the cathedral we saw the exhibition of what the cathedral looked like before and after WWI.
In 1974 Marc Chagall installed his stained glass windows in to the cathedral, making it even more beautiful.
It has an almost nightly light show during the summer months. It starts fairly late so maybe not the most kid-friendly activity, but hey you’re on vacation! As the schedule changes often I will just put a link to it here.
This is located near the Cathédrale and is a mediaeval palace that once housed the Bishop and Archbishop. It currently houses a collection of artwork and historical artifacts that you can visit. The Palace and the Cathédrale are both UNESCO World Heritage sites and well worth your time.
About 10 minutes outside of town, Saint-Remi is a small, but beautiful site. The current building was built in 1007 and is listed as a Unesco World Heritage site.
Festivals and Christmas Market-
If you are visiting around the Holiday Season or really any time of year, it is always good to check the local events calendar. There are festivals almost every weekend in the summer!
Things to do in Epernay:
Epernay is only a less than 30 min scenic drive or train ride from Reims. The route goes by many of the vineyards and is quite pleasant. In town we parked at the train station.
You can visit any one of the Champagne houses and go on a tour of the cellars. As you know, I recommend Mercier for anyone with kids, but really all of them are great. During both wars, the champagne cellars were turned into underground cities full of makeshift schools and military hospitals. In WWII they were heavily raided for their delicious contents.
The history of these cellars adds to the intrigue. They definitely captured my attention and I am not alone. There are many famous quotes about Champagne, but here are two of my favorites:
“Remember gentlemen, it’s not just France we are fighting for, it’s Champagne!” – Winston Churchill
“In victory you deserve Champagne, in defeat you need it.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
After you champagne tour, go into downtown Epernay and have a bite to eat. There are plenty of restaurants and even a (tethered) hot air balloon you can ride.
Go to Champagne and take your kids! Experience the history, the art and enjoy a glass or two!
I always find it fun to learn a little of the language before I go so for some quick words and phrases to, at the very least, make you a courteous tourist here is a little French for you!
