Épernay, France

Épernay, France. Photo: Espirat/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Épernay is a commune in the Marne department in northern France. It is located some 130 km north-east of Paris on the main line of the Eastern railway to Strasbourg. The town sits on the left bank of the Marne at the extremity of the Cubry valley which crosses it.

A number of the most famous brands are produced and cellared in the miles of tunnels which exist beneath the town. Notable brands include Moët et Chandon.

Épernay is surrounded by a number of smaller villages including Oiry and Magenta among others.

Get in

By train. Épernay is serviced by France's SNCF. From Paris the trip takes less 1.5 hours and costs approximately 13 Euro. It is some 20 minutes by train from Reims. There is no TGV service to Epernay, although plans are well underway for the TGV-Est line. It is not expected that such a line will stop in Epernay.

What to See in Épernay

In the central and oldest quarter of the town, the streets are narrow and irregular; the surrounding suburbs, however, are modern and more spacious, with La Folie to the East, for example, containing many villas belonging to rich wine merchants. The town has also spread to the right bank of the Marne.

• Notre Dame church retains a portal and stained-glass windows from the sixteenth century.

Église Notre-Dame. Photo: Daniel Jolivet/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

• The most famous street in Épernay is the Avenue de Champagne which features the leading Champagne manufacturers.

Avenue de Champagne. Photo: ADT Marne/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Other sights outside the town include: Château de Pierry, Château de Montmort and Château de Condé.

Château de Condé. Photo: Eponimm/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

What to Do in Épernay

Visit of cellars.

Drink

Champagne

Sleep

• Chateau Les Aulnois (Table d'Hotes), 61, Rue du Général de Gaulle, Pierry, +333-26-54-27-23. Recently refurbished chateau & former champagne house, now a small luxury hotel with gourmet food. From €150. (Wikivoyage, Wikipedia)

See also Épernay in Pictures.

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