Champagne-Ardenne
The Champagne-Ardenne region, which is often called simply Champagne, contains the departments of Ardennes (08), Aube (10), Marne (51) and Haute-Marne (52).
Best known for the famous sparkling wine, Champagne wine has been a prized luxury for centuries, but only started being sparkling at the end of the 17th century, when it was transported in casks to England.
A secondary fermentation caused by the journey made the wine fizzy, and the English, discovering that the bubbles were a good thing, started making it that way on purpose. Then Dom Pérignon, a blind French monk, invented a method for bottling the bubbles.
There are numerous beautiful buildings and churches to discover, and charming towns to visit. Troyes is off the beaten track, and has a medieval timber-framed town centre, which is well worth a visit. There are also lakes, rivers, canals and forests to explore in the countryside.
Long, wet winters and cool summers mean that the Champagne region is only just within the climate limits of wine production. They also mean that carrying a waterproof around is a good idea, that the countryside is always green, and that the summers are less fierce than in southern regions.
The interesting, smokey andouillettes de Troyes (tripe sausages) are not to everyones’ taste, but other delicious dishes include potée champenoise (like pot au feu), and meals made with local game.
Champagne also produces wonderful cheeses; Cendre de Champagne, Chaource, Ricey Cendre, Chaumont and Landres. Landres has a dip in it, to fill with champagne or marc.
To view some Gites in the Centre, please visit Gites in Champagne-Ardenne.
All the best
