Relax in the towns where holy art and secular architecture vie with each other in beauty, by visiting the villages and their wonderful flower displays, by tasting the produce of this, the birthplace of Champagne.
From the coronation of kings to the battles of the Marne, from Attila the Hun to Joan of Arc, the list of emblematic figures and mysterious places to excite your curiosity is endless.
Colourful stained glass mosaics that sparkle in the sun, half-timbered houses that warm the streets, the mellow hues of the stones: beauty is never far away.
Here, you can taste the famous vintages in Gallo-Roman chalk galleries, and admire the subtleties of the blending process, where the flavours burst forth in the subdued light of the cellars…
By following the Champagne tourist rail, you will become party to the secret, the savoir-faire and traditions that inspire the men and women who produce this delicate nectar.
As for nature, with a multitude of forests, vineyards and gardens, there is no end to the types of scenery on offer Observation of migratory birds, water sports or walking, all the ingredients for a huge breath of fresh air.
Intense moments of pleasure lie in store for the visitor who takes in all these riches… Between unusual discoveries and cultural enrichment, emotion and rejuvenation are the order of the day. In la Marne, the week-ends are real holidays…

THE PLAIN OF CHAMPAGNE

Forming a frontier with the Ardennes and the Aube is the vast Plain of Champagne, an essential factor in French agriculture. The quality of the subsoil, in particular thanks to the chalk bedrock which retains rainwater, has led to the development of a highly diverse agriculture. As far as the eye can see, the fields of cereals, beet or Lucerne have created a serene landscape with sharply contrasting colours. In the heart of this immense plain stands Châlons-en-Champagne, the Little Venice of the Marne.
A trading city for over ten centuries, with a remarkable architectural heritage, it is a calm and peaceful place which charms visitors from the moment they arrive.
Nearby, numerous sites recall the fighting that raged here at various times between 1870 and 1945.

CHALONS EN CHAMPAGNE, CITY OF ART
Prefecture of the Marne and of the Champagne-Ardenne Region, situated in the Marne Valley, in the heart of Champagne, the city, the former oppidum of the Catalauni, has over 50.000 inhabitants. It is an important centre of rail, road and canal transport networks, standing between the most active regions of France and of the European Union.
The town has preserved much of the architecture bequeathed to it by the medieval period. The 17th and 18th centuries saw the construction of beautiful half-timbered buildings, using typical Champagne-style bonding (alternation between brick and chalk), or other houses built in stone and chalk. The charm of the town is rounded off by its numerous parks end canals, where you can take a leisurely stroll.
From June to September, a boat trip on the Mau and the Nau gives you an original view of the buildings and monuments that form part of the riches of the town.
Not to be missed: the Saint Etienne cathedral, a thirteenth century gothic building, Notre-Dame en Vaux church which is a masterpiece of the Romanesque-gothic transitory period, its 56 bell carillon as well as the Hotels de la Prefecture, du Département and de Region, the Ste-Marie Convent, the Vinetz Priory, not forgetting the museums Municipal, Garinet, Schiller and Goethe, and of the Cloister at Notre-Dame en Vaux, a medieval marvel.

Châlons-en-Champagne Tourist Information Office
3 quai des Arts - 51000 Châlons-en-Champagne
Tél. 3265 ou 00 33 (0) 3 26 65 17 89 – Fax. 00 33 (0) 3 26 65 35 65
off.tourisme.chalons-en-champagne@wanadoo.fr
http:///www.chalons-tourisme.com
http://www.tourisme-en-champagne.com
Opening times :
May à sept. : Mon. au sat. De 9:00 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m./Sun. : 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Oct. to april : Mon. to sat. from 9:30 a.m. to noon and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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