The Portes de la Champagne conceal well kept secrets. The territory enjoys a beautiful dynamic of frequentation while offering places with human size.
Bucolic landscapes for a total disconnection
Looking for a breath of fresh air and walks in the countryside? Don't worry, you're in the right place! The Portes de La Champagne are crossed by the beautiful Marne, the largest river in France, which offers kilometers of walks and beautiful picnic areas. Thanks to the river, the surrounding area is rich and green, ideal for rest and relaxation.
In the summer, when the flowers are in full bloom, visiting the gardens of Château-Thierry is a real treat for the senses. The Riomet garden with its medicinal plants and the Thibaud IV rose garden with its 48 varieties of flowers make for exceptional and entertaining visits. A little further away, in Brasles, the extraordinary garden of Champagne Joël Michel, nestled behind the castle, seems a dreamlike interlude to the soft sound of the murmuring water. The castle of Condé also offers beautiful walks as well as remarkable viewpoints on the Champagne hillsides. Keep your eyes open: it is not uncommon to come across squirrels, herons or deer.
If you are looking for other viewpoints, you will be spoiled. Whether on foot, on horseback or even in a horse-drawn carriage, the effort is worth it. The viewpoints of the Three Valleys (the Surmelin, the Dhuys and the Verdonnelle) make it necessary to take out the camera! Several other hiking circuits allow you to discover the panoramas from different angles. The landscape is never the same, the seasons transform the colors of the flora and give life to a rich and varied fauna.
Finally, you should not miss some of the natural specificities of the region, including the Hottée du Diable and its strange sandstone that evokes fantastic shapes that could be thought to be carved by man. The Hottée du Diable is part of a natural area of ecological, faunistic and floristic interest. You must go there with your eyes and ears wide open. Camille and Paul Claudel, natives of the region, often came there to walk and meditate... The Domaine de la Salamandre in Latilly, framed by a canyon bordered by white sand, offers an atypical scenery and an exceptional fishing area for the amateurs, who will have to pay an entrance fee to take advantage of the place.
Champagne: a know-how and a production on a human scale
"There is something about champagne that cannot be compared to anything else", Amélie Nothomb recently said. It would be difficult to contradict her! The fine bubbles, the very particular flavors make this drink one of the most fascinating ever. Each bottle is a different experience, so exceptional that we often want to enjoy it at our most important personal events. But does there really need to be a special reason to enjoy champagne? Here, it has become an art and a way to redefine a territory that still keeps its secrets. This wine world is nevertheless recognized by the greatest since the "Coteaux, Maisons et Caves de Champagne" are registered since 2015 on the UNESCO World Heritage list. A deserved consecration which makes no doubt about the quality of the place.
The entire work of production and distribution of Champagne wine is spread over five departments: the Marne, Aube, Aisne, Haute-Marne and Seine-et-Marne. Many actors of the champagne have also developed a wine tourism strategy since 2019 to enhance the attractiveness of this land where this exceptional wine was born and continues to be born. The label "Vignobles & découvertes" is a good way to find your way among the many addresses present on the territory. To date, 89 service providers are part of this network, including 45 wineries. By relying on this label, you are sure to be welcomed with quality and to find the best products of the area.
The winegrowers also show a lot of initiative on the territory. In addition to offering visits to the cellars, it is also possible to attend master classes, discover the vineyards in a Volkswagen combi, in a buggy or in an old vehicle, or even to attend relaxation sessions in the vineyards. You had to invent it!
A set of exceptional moments that pay tribute to this beautiful culture of the vine. Champagne is first and foremost the winegrowers, men and women who are passionate about their profession and who are keen to pass on their know-how, their taste for the best products and to share their harvest, which is rediscovered each year for our greatest pleasure.
The Champagne heritage and its illustrious characters
The Portes de la Champagne is definitely full of treasures and culture lovers will not be disappointed. Castles, monuments, historical characters... The territory has known the most prestigious stories. The favorite storyteller of the Champagne region is surely Jean de La Fontaine, whose birthplace is in the heart of Château-Thierry. Now a museum, the house is full of exceptional pieces. A special emotion is hidden within these walls where the fabulist created much of his literary work. A real journey through time and space.
Jean de La Fontaine was not the only one to find inspiration in this exceptional territory.
Paul Claudel was born here in 1868 and the entire Claudel family regularly spent long stays in the house where he was born, which was the former presbytery of Villeneuve-sur-Fère before the Revolution. Now a museum, the place highlights the artistic sensitivity of Camille and Paul Claudel, two world-renowned artists who both drew their inspiration from this green territory. Many treasures are hidden here.
Numerous castles and their estates also mark the landscape of the Portes de la Champagne, with first of all the Château de Condé, the former residence of the Princes of Condé, Bourbon and Savoy. Today it is inhabited all year round and has become one of the best preserved treasures in France. The castles of Château-Thierry, which in the Middle Ages housed the largest medieval kitchens in Europe, and of Fère-en-Tardenois, as well as that of Nesles, take us back to the Middle Ages.
Several churches add to the richness of the territory's heritage: the church of Saint-Eugène, the church of Saint-Crépin, where Jean de La Fontaine was baptized, offer a trip back in time. The abbey church of Saint-Ferréol in Essômes-sur-Marne, with its 22-meter high vault, and its imposing painting "The wrath of Noah", is greatly admired by visitors.
A land of memory and memories
The Gates of Champagne have not always had a peaceful history. The numerous commemorative monuments that dot the landscape tell of major historical events: the Napoleonic Wars as well as the two World Wars. In 1814, the Napoleonic battles, also known as the French Campaign, began. The museum located in Essises takes up these historical accounts. The tourist circuit "La Route des quatre victoires" also allows to better understand these decisive battles by passing by the different monuments, plaques and steles.
The land is particularly marked by the second battle of the Marne, sometimes called the battle of Rheims, very deadly, which took place in 1918. It was one of the decisive victories of the Allies in the First World War. The link between France and the United States has remained strong ever since, with troops fighting together to defend Belleau Wood and Château-Thierry. The Musée de la Mémoire de Belleau 1914-1918 recalls these events. Two exhibitions are held there each year. A visit to the woods allows you to follow in the footsteps of the soldiers. The place leads to reflection and commemoration. The American cemetery of Belleau has 2,289 graves of American soldiers killed during the battle. As a result of the fighting, they were nicknamed "Devil Dogs" by the Germans to signify their fighting spirit. Behind the chapel, one can also discover the authentic cannons watched over by bronze soldiers. A place full of history.
The Cote 204 Memorial was built by the Americans on the heights of the town of Château-Thierry after the First World War. It overlooks the Marne Valley and once again demonstrates the historical link between France and the United States. Under the Cote 204 monument, you can also visit a museum: the visitor center. Its scenography and its 200 m² are really worth the detour.
In Fère-en-Tardenois, the "Oise-Aisne" cemetery has 6,012 graves. In addition, the names of 241 soldiers inscribed on the walls of the chapel whose bodies were unfortunately never found. It is the second military cemetery of the First World War with the most graves. To observe all these graves lined up provokes a great emotion and gives us an idea of all these lives given to the war.
To finish this commemorative tour, you should not miss the pietà in Fère-en-Tardenois, Memorial of the 42nd US Division. Almost three meters high, it is the work of James Butler and represents an American soldier carrying in his arms a dead comrade. A magnificent and imposing work. It represents once again the courage and commitment of the Americans on French soil.
FUTURE INFO
When?
All year round. If you are a lover of beautiful pictures, autumn is the perfect season to point your lens at the vineyards that are glowing beautifully, just after the harvest. In spring and summer, the vines are mature and can be seen in their splendor. The winter, with its snow-covered panoramas, also has its own charm.
Treat yourself to a glass of wine
- Maison Pannier
23, rue Roger Catillon, Château-Thierry. Visits and tastings on reservation: tel. 03 23 69 51 30.
- Maison Météyer
39, rue de l'Europe in Trélou-sur-Marne. Visits from Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm by reservation: tel. 03 23 70 26 20.
- House Lévêque Dehan
2, rue des Lilas Marcilly in Barzy-sur-Marne. Visit, walks, workshops on reservation: tel. 03 23 70 32 41.
- Régis Gerbaux House
15, rue Bezu Le Guery in Crouttes-sur-Marne. Visit and tasting from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 12pm and from 2pm to 6pm, by reservation: tel. 03 23 82 15 01.
- Daniel Gerbaux House
27, rue Robert Gerbaux in Chézy-sur-Marne. Visit and tasting by reservation: tel. 03 23 82 86 73.
Take in the view
- The Mont de Bonneil. Exceptional view on the vineyards as far as the eye can see.
- Montigny lès Condé. The panorama is located on the road to Pargny, just behind the church. You will find an orientation table next to the old wash house.
-Unusual lodging : Le Nid dans les Bruyères in Fère en Tardenois.
Here you can sleep in trees, hideaways, Hobbit houses and cosy nests. Reservations: tel. 06 77 83 18 50
How to get there
By car, from Paris only 1 hour by the A4. 2 hours from Amiens on the A26. 45 min from Reims on the A4. By train: Château-Thierry station (place Jean Monnet). Transilien SNCF from Gare de l'Est. It takes less than an hour to get there. By plane : Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports are less than 100 km away. By boat: by going up or down the Marne River from Paris or Épernay. A river stop in the area offers you the possibility to stay and discover without moderation the destination of the Portes de la Champagne.
For more information
This site of the Portes de la Champagne gathers the main information to know about the territory and allows to book visits and cultural and gastronomic experiences.
- LES PORTES DE LA CHAMPAGNE - MAISON DU TOURISME
2, place des États-Unis - 02400 Château-Thierry
Tel: 03 23 83 51 14
