Epernay

Visit Epernay, Champagne-Ardenne

Epernay is in the Marne department of the Champagne-Ardenne region, in the north of France. Epernay is a wealthy looking town because of the expensive townhouses and mansions constructed (mostly 19th century) based on the wealth from champagne.

Exploring Epernay

The town sits below vine-covered hills and is well placed to discover various of the well known champagne producers. While Epernay is best known as being something of a mecca for those with a taste for champagne the rest of the town and the surrounding region also contains some places of interest.

Champagne tasting

The Avenue de Champagne is the place to start your tour of the grand champagne houses. It is also the place to start a visit if you are not interested in champagne, because it is along this Avenue that many of the most impressive houses in Epernay are found.

Moet et Chandon and Mercier are the most popular champagne houses for a quick taster (degustation), although many smaller producers are also available to visit in the town.

At Castellane - you can't miss it because their 1905 tower dominates the town you get good views across the town included in your visit.

Elsewhere in Epernay

The town has been attacked and destroyed numerous times during its long history, so there is little remaining here from the medieval period. The 'Portail Saint Martin' is the oldest monument, and is an impressive stone doorway that is all that remains of the 16th century Church of Notre Dame. Hence most architecture in the town dates from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Two grand villas you will see as you pass around the town include the town hall and its impressive gardens (built in 1858) and the Chateau-Perrier, built in 1854 and notable as being the headquarters for the British, the Germans and then the Americans all during the Second World War. The Gabrielle-Dorziat theatre also has an impressive facade.

The most important religious monument in Epernay is the church of Notre-Dame (the church has the appearance of being much older than 1925 when it was rebuilt after war damage). You can also see the synagogue which has a decorative facade.

Several pretty, well-maintained parks will provide your resting places as you wander around Epernay - alternatively there are various marked paths passing through the town that show off the splendours of the flowers and parks.

Attractions nearby

There is attractive countryside around Epernay to explore with a mix of vineyards and forests, and the chance to see numerous small villages and churches and castles in the gently rolling terrain.

To the north of Epernay you can explore the Natural Regional Parc de la Montagne de Reims, while the valley of the Marne River to the west and the countryside to the south are also very scenic.

The tourist office in Epernay has details of suggested driving routes for each of these areas, including suggested chateaux for wine tasting.

Tourist classifications for Epernay: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 3*;

Suggested places to visit near Epernay, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

See these places and more on a map at places near Epernay

Epernay tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Montagne-de-Reims - regional natural parc (10km) : Jardin botanique de la Presle - remarkable garden (10km) : Oger - ville fleurie 4* (10km) : Rilly-la-Montagne - ville fleurie 4* (15km) : Chamery - ville fleurie 4* (15km) : Cathédrale de Reims (Reims) - religious monument (24km) : Saint-Martin-sur-le-Pre - ville fleurie 4* (29km) : Baconnes - ville fleurie 4* (30km) :

French version: see Epernay (Francais)