An elegant afternoon in a French town – stroll through the Champagne capital of Epernay
This trip came to Épernay, a low-key but extremely elegant Champagne town in northeastern France. The Avenue de Champagne here is definitely the soul of the town, surrounded by trees and historical buildings, walking on the stone road shining with raindrops, even breathing with the romantic bubbles of champagne🫧.
Analysis of Epernay's itinerary highlights -
The pace here is completely different from Paris, just slow down and walk on Champagne Avenue to savor the leisurely French countryside. Especially on a drizzly afternoon, walking to the city hall garden (Jardin du mairie) and looking at the classical Western-style architecture dotted with mist and street lights in the distance, even if you just sit quietly and enjoy the rain and daze, is enough to take a movie pictorial-like photo. World-renowned Champagne wineries (such as Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët) are lined along the Champagne Avenue, and every antique mansion seems to hide a story of French elegance.
Recommended must-see attractions in Epernay——
1. Avenue de Champagne
It is more than one kilometer long and paved with European-style stone slabs, which is the essence of Champagne culture. The forests and street lights on both sides add to the charm when the weather is cloudy, suitable for strolling and taking pictures. It is recommended to make an appointment to visit a couple of wineries to experience an authentic French champagne tasting and feel the mystery of a century-old underground cellar.
2. Jardin du mairie (City Hall Gardens)
Address: 7 bis Av. de Champagne, 51200 Épernay, France
The town hall garden is a daily oasis for the Epernays, and there is a particularly quiet poetry to walk into on a rainy day. The garden is lined with tall trees, with modern sculptures and beautiful Western architecture as a backdrop, making it a great place to spend an afternoon. If you like to take pictures, don't miss the unique scene of Western-style architecture and bright green tree shadows intertwined in the rain.
3. Champagne winery experience
Moët & Chandon, Mercier, Perrier-Jouët and other big-name wineries on the Champagne Boulevard accept tour reservations from visitors.
Itinerary tips:
- Champagne Avenue is mainly walking, it is recommended to wear waterproof and comfortable shoes + bring a light umbrella, can elegantly and leisurely roam the entire street.
- Less crowded on rainy days, photography can capture empty and atmospheric street scenes, architectural close-ups/distant views are also very out of the picture.
- The winery is more popular in the morning on weekends and is much quieter in the afternoon or weekday, more suitable for in-depth experiences.
Transportation Tips:
Paris is about 1.5 hours by SNCF train to Epernay, and a ten-minute walk from the train station to the Avenue des Champagne is very convenient.
Food Recommendations:
With small town cafes and bakeries abound, we recommend a classic French breakfast at Le Progres (7 Place Pierre Mendès France) near the Champagne Boulevard before kicking off a day of winery roaming.
#Champagne Boulevard #Slow Tour of French Town #Epernay Itinerary #Winery Exploration #Europe Travel Tips