Epernay is in the Seine-et-Marne region, part of the Ile de France Department of France, 74 miles (119 kilometres) north east of Paris on the main railway line from Paris to Strasborg. You take the train to Epernay from the Gare de l’Est in Paris.
The train journey is only an hour and ten minutes and there are fare concessions for under 25 travelers.
If you’re driving you take the A4 from Paris in the direction of Reims.
Why go to Epernay?
Epernay is famous for the Champagne produced by the great Champagne houses known as Grande Marques.
Although Epernay is only a small town with a population of 26,000 people, kilometers of chalk cellars under its streets house 200 million bottles of fine Champagne.
The wine is produced on 64,000 acres of vineyards surrounding the town. The distinctive terroir of the region entitles famous producers including Veuve Clicquot and Mumm to label their wine Champagne.
Terroir relates to every aspect of wine production from the moisture in the air to the soil that nurtures the grapes. Each wine region of France is unique for its terroir.
In Epernay itself on L‘Avenue de Champagne you can visit the houses of some of the region’s great Champagne producers such as Moet et Chandon, Perrier-Jouët, Heidsieck Monopole, Krug, Charles Heidsieck and Piper Heidsieck.
Nearby Reims and its Gothic Cathedral
Reims, the largest manufacturing centre for champagne wine, is nearby. In Reims, if you’ve had enough Champagne, you can visit the gothic Notre Dame Cathedral where the Kings of France were crowned.
Camping in Epernay
The inexpensive and well equipped Municipal Camping Site in Epernay is on the banks of the River Marne, a five minute bicycle ride from town.
If you arrive by train there are well marked signs from the railway station to the campsite which is an easy walk.
The camp sites are well spaced and hedged for privacy. You can choose a site with or without power.
In the morning, after a hot shower, in the excellent shared facilities (there's a private basin with each shower stall) the Baker’s van arrives and parks at the top of the campground. On offer are baguette, croissants, raisin bread and coffee you can take to the riverside and enjoy before the more strenuous activities of wine tasting begin.
Bicycles are on hire from the campsite to take you into town to see the sights and have a tasting of the bubbles. You pay more for the newer models but the cheaper ones on offer are very good.
There’s good bicycling in the country around the vineyards, but the streets in the older parts of town are narrow and busy with traffic.
In July 2010 Epernay was again included on a stage of the Tour de France. Spectators thronged the town to see the start of the stage from Epernay to Gueugnon. Cycling has a huge following in France and the tour, which often visits Champagne country is the premier event of the competitive cycling year.
Sources:
Travels in France, Summer 2010
Votre Magazine Epernay on the web visited 7 August 2010
Toni Bartush - Toni Bartush was a Barrister at the New South Wales Bar and a Solicitor in private practice, specialising in civil litigation. She was a ...
