Essential Champagne - Reims and Marne Valley

Its birthplace lies just east of Paris, in a beautiful region full of historic royal glory and a robust legacy of wine production that dates back to the early Middle Ages and shows no sign of stopping. On your bike, you’ll discover UNESCO World Heritage monuments which once housed the coronations and banquets of the Kings of France, and enjoy your own tastes of luxury at prestigious Champagne houses from Pommery to Moët et Chandon.

Your bases on this exploration are the cities of Reims and Epernay, the latter often referred to as the Champagne Capital. From here, leisurely daily rides will immerse you fully in the region, introducing you to smaller Champagne villages like Aÿ, Cumieres, Avenay Val d’Or, and Hautviller, which the celebrated monk Dom Perignon once called home. Above ground, you’ll pedal along quiet roads through the gently rolling countryside, surrounded by lush woods and vineyards; below, it’s time to appreciate the fruits of the region’s labour, as you visit underground cellars filled with row upon row of sparkling bottles. At the end of each day, you can feel justified in celebrating with a glass of Champagne -- after all, you’re following in the footsteps of royalty.