We left Laon behind, and drove towards Châlons-en-Champagne, were we booked a one night's stay.
It was very hot, but still, the weather was changing from cloudy, rainy, to sunny and finally very sunny with almost clear sky. We passed some sunflower fields as we drove, but sadly this year they have all dried up due to the heat. I was looking forward to rows and rows of grapes. Suddenly, as soon as we crossed into the Champagne-Ardenne region (which comprised regions of Marne, Haute-Marne, Ardennes and Aube since 1956) they were all around us. The grape fields were absolutely gorgeous and all I could think of were markets full of them in early Autumn.
Épernay, is a beautiful town, with commune of just over 22 thousand people, surrounded by vineyards and quite well known to those in the business of winemaking.
It must had been well over 40° in the sun, when we parked our car on the famous Avenue de Champagne. Even though it was Friday, there were no shops where you could buy water, so your other option was obviously Champagne.. Luckily, we have found a little street fountain with drinkable water by the Collard-Picard Champagne House.
So what is the the famous Avenue de Champagne? It is exactly that, an avenue full of Champagne houses, that not only represent biggest Champagne brands, but also offer wine tastings and cellar tours. Apparently, there is one particular house - Mercier Champagne, which is more suitable for children, as it offers a unique way of visiting the cellar with a little train.
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If you are in the area not necessarily for the Champagne but for it's beauty, you may wish to take a very short drive to Hautvillers. The village of Hautvillers is very picturesque, and if you visit the area by car, you may wish to stay overnight exactly there, enjoying the views of the vineyards, especially when you open the windows in your hotel room in the morning.
See you next time, when we will be shopping at the Châlons-en-Champagne Saturday's market! 🍓
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