Champagne And Ardenne Food Drink Culture
A region of France that has both fine food and drink perfectly covered! The areas of Champagne and Ardenne are now part of a relatively new administration region of France called the Grand Est (Grand East).
Reims in the heart of the Champagne region.
The new name was voted for by some 300,000 residents and also includes Alsace Lorraine.
This fertile area with small mountains in the east of Ardenne and the undulating plains of the Champagne around the historic city of Reims is a good place to start your culinary exploration.
Champagne display at the champagne domain of Verve Clicquot, Reims.
The city of Reims with a huge gothic cathedral was the church of choice for the coronation of some 25 French Kings. No visit to the city is complete without one there, which incidentally is free, but donations always welcome of course.
The coronation chair of 25 French Kings in the Palace Du Tau, Reims.
Its high vaulted nave and interior are wonderful as is the finely carved west exterior. The hundreds of carved stone figures adorn the front and a visit to the nearby museum and Bishop’s Palace, the Palace De Tau you will get some idea of the scale of those figures.
Culture and Conflict
The city found itself very much on the front line in World War I. Its cathedral was pounded some 300 times by the Germans. However, to see the building today, it is amazing to think that it was literally a crumbling shell of back in 1918!
A champagne dress with over 80 drinks…served in style in.
The city of champagne, Reims has many of its famous champagne domains located right in the city.
Names like Veuve Clicquot, Mumm, Krug are all big players in the world of champagne and are almost in sight of each other here in Reims.
Millions of bottles of champagne are stored in vast caves beneath the champagne Reims,
Tours at Veuve Clicquot down into their extensive underground cellars where you will see millions of Euro’s worth of champagne slowly reaching their peak and ready for sale under their well-known yellow label.
Thousands of bottles also maturing to be added to their top selling vintages like La Grande Dame or its Rose version at over £200 depending on the year!
Champagne cellar tours here at Veuve Clicquot.
Visiting is from Tuesday to Saturday for 1hour 30min tour and costs around €25 each.
The pretty town of Epernay is another centre for the production of champagne and a short journey away.
More culinary treats are to be enjoyed a short journey to the east and the area of The Ardenne.
Production of local foods at Saveurs d’Ardennes. Air dried ham sausages and salami.
This is the land of beer and ham.
Fine air-dried hams are produced in the countryside the year-long process bringing to the plate some of the tastiest ham I have sampled.
Both Champagne and Ardenne Offer Great Food and Drink
Delicate slices along with other pork products are very much the mainstay of the butchers and farm shops found in the area.
Beer too is a key product in the French Ardenne.
Ready for beer tasting at the Ardwen brewery
Using its locally grown barley that is malted here too. Although most hops are imported. However, using their natural fresh underground spring water completes the sensory experience of their fine brewed products.
One of the special beers made by the Ardwen brewery in Launois-sur-Vence.
One such brewery in the small village east of Reims at Launois-sur-Vence, the Ardwen Brewery has won many awards. Its micro-brewery produces thousands of bottles and casks every year most are consumed in the Ardenne and other nearby towns.
The Museum and hotel Château Fort de Sedan. The largest medieval fort in Northern Europe.
As well as culinary delights there are many cultural delights too.
Heading further east into the more hilly and deep cut valley areas there are wonderful places to stay like at a hotel within a medieval castle in the town of Sedan.
The largest medieval fort in Northern Europe at Sedan converted to a hotel.
This former prison building was converted into a hotel right within the massive walls of the fortress. Brought right up to date the hotel provides a unique stay along with some excellent dining.
Owned by the town itself the Château Fort de Sedan is run by a hotel team that are experienced and welcoming.
The fortress that dominates the hilltop in the town has been extended over the many hundreds of years in order to improve its defences as methods of attack weapons changed over time.
There is also a museum within the fort that is really well worth visiting and a stroll around the ramparts will provide excellent views over the town.
The town square or Place Ducale in the twin towns of Charleville-Mezieres in the French Ardenne.
Another great find for the visitor is certainly the town that straddles the meandering Meuse River, Charleville-Mezieres.
With its extensive and pretty and extensive town square surrounded by honey coloured buildings.
Arthur Rimbaud, left and his lover Paul Verlaine. Museum dedicated to the famous French poet and explorer.
Designed by Louis XII’s architect, Clément II Métezeau, who created this new style of urban planning and beautifully done it is, in the Place Ducale or the central square.
The town is the birthplace of iconic French poet Arthur Rimbaud.
Arthur started writing at a very young age and even before his 21st birthday he had completed many of his key works.
He led a censorious life and lived in Africa for many years before returning to his hometown where suffering from gangrene in his leg he pleaded to be taken back to Africa but died on the way in 1891.
Close up of one of the puppet shows on the Grand Puppeteer Clock.
There is a contemporary museum in a former mill house that has many of his personal items on display.
The town is also the ‘Puppet’ capital of the world as every two years it holds a Marionettes festival the next festival is likely to be late September 2021.
Puppeteers from all over the world descend on the town, which even has a town clock dedicated to the art. Every hour a giant puppet master plays one scene but on a Saturday morning at 9am all the scenes are played this draws huge crowds at all times of the year.
Another grand place to stay nearby is the Chateau Du Faucon at Donchery in extensive 70-acre grounds this old-style manor has much to offer and some excellent food to complete the elegant picture.
Champagne and Ardenne areas are food and drink for any visitor.
All to be washed down with a first-class taste of Gallic culture too!
Fact Box for Champagne and Ardenne Areas:
From London to Reims prices start at £65 standard class return per person. Journey time just over 4 hours station to station.
