If you are looking for an excuse to organize the umpteenth weekend in Champagne or you would like to go there for the first time, but you have never managed to convince your companions for anything sensitive to the charm of the bubbles, here it is served, the 14, 15 and 16 December 2018 with Habits de Lumière.
The party takes place onAvenue de Champagne of Epernay, which on this occasion looks so much like paradise, as every wine enthusiast dreams of it. The headquarters of the great maison, ancient and imposing buildings, which follow one after the other, in a luxury and magnificence competition, dress up with light games, punctuated by musical performances, able to enchant adults and children. All doors are open and visitors can move from one building to another tastings of Champagne, combined with oysters, grilled meat, cheese and other local specialties. Along the way, dozens of artists parading with gigantic horses, tightrope walkers, mimes, fantastic machines, this year inspired by the world of Jules Verne, ending with a fireworks display worthy of the glories of Versailles. The party, born in 2000 and very much felt by the vigneron, also allows you to see the real monuments of Champagne, like Monsieur Philipponnat or Madame Boizel, just to name a couple whose fortuitous meeting left me dry for the emotion.
Christmas market but above all wineries
If you cut out a long weekend, it is worth taking the opportunity to visit the Christmas market around the cathedral of Reims, one of the most beautiful in France, as well as the church itself, a gothic jewel protected as World Heritage by UNESCO, where 34 sovereigns were crowned and today is made even more precious by the exciting polychrome windows, made by the likes of by Marc Chagall.
Of course you can not take a trip to Champagne without visiting at least one winery and a good idea to involve the whole family is to choose one where the "Wow effect" is assured. Like Taittinger, in Reims, one of the only six big houses (along with Ruinart, Pommery, Veuve Clicquot, Charles Heidsieck and GH Martel) that has the cellars set in the ancient crayères, real underground gypsum cathedrals, excavated at the time of the Romans, with galleries long kilometers, where the bottles rest and where they are still visible remains of the ancient crypt of the church of Saint-Nicaise and engravings made by the French population that in these places has always found refuge during the many wars that have troubled the region .
Finally, a couple of practical information: the most convenient way to get to Champagne is by air to Paris Charles de Gaulle. From here, with a TGV stop you get to the Champagne-Ardenne station where you find the local train connection to Reims or where you can take a taxi (better book it). But if you want to stock up on bottles, the car remains the best option …
Where to sleep
If you are traveling by car, you can sleep in Reims, a very pleasant and well-connected town: a good address is that ofHotel de la Paix (9, rue Buirette) less than a ten minute walk from the train station and the cathedral. If you travel by car, you can surrender to the charm of a hotel in some village surrounded by vineyards. A good choice is theCastel Jeanson hotel in Ay, owned by the family Henri Goutorbe, which also produces very interesting Champagne with an excellent quality-price ratio.
If you are looking for a charming accommodation, you can rent one of the suites of the De Venoge house, directly on the avenue de Champagne in Epernay, so as not to miss a minute of the party.
For information: habitsdelumiere.epernay.fr; Comité Champagne champagne.fr/it
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