The perfect guide for a weekend in Epernay

Are you spending a weekend in Epernay in the Champagne region and looking for the best tours and must-sees? You’ve come to the right place, we’ve put together a program full of surprises for you, to discover the Champagne region, France and all its treasures.

Who are we? Sarah & Romain, two locals in love with Epernay and the Champagne region, and owners of our apartments just a stone’s throw from the Avenue de Champagne.

Our goal is to guide you through your 2 days in Epernay and its surroundings, including Reims, to help you discover the best tours and places to visit and take you to our favourite spots to enjoy Champagne bubbles and food.

Today, we offer you a complete Epernay tour program to be carried out over two days, because discovering Epernay and its surroundings in 2 days is the perfect timing.

Between discovery, pleasure and tastings, all in the company of local Champagne enthusiasts.

An ideal day in Epernay

Your first day in Epernay

Because we want to show you the best of Epernay, we have put together the ideal program for you for a day of tours, allowing you to discover the city’s must-sees.
You will find the details of this first day in my article and I make you a quick summary just below.

After your flight onboard the Epernay balloon, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy a superb panoramic view of the valleys surrounding Epernay and Reims, you will be able to join the Avenue de Champagne, where you will find the most beautiful Champagne Houses and where you will be able to tour and enjoy a few bubbles of the best champagnes from our region.

Then, you can go to one of the best restaurants in Epernay, among a selection of tables all tested and approved by us, and we are both selective about places promising wine and culinary pleasure.

After this gourmet break, your next destination, the landscaped park of the Hôtel de Ville, Epernay, for a short soothing walk in an idyllic setting. And to finish this day in beauty, you must absolutely pass by Hautvillers, this small village is also called the cradle of Champagne. Hautvillers is just a 15-minute drive from Epernay and 30 minutes from Reims.

During your day tour, as you stroll through the streets of Epernay, don’t miss the architecture of the fabulous Champagne Houses, but also the Church of Notre Dame, a magnificent sight to behold.

If you are as greedy as us, go and have a sweet treat at Dallet, undoubtedly the best pastry shop in the Epernay area.

Discovering Champagne, 2 days in Epernay

As an essential part of your day tour program, we invite you to set foot in the heart of Epernay to learn all about Champagne and its history, but also to visit the chalk pits where you will find more than 200 million bottles of bubbles.

To make sure you don’t miss anything along this weekend in Epernay, we really recommend that you visit one of the cellars of the biggest Champagne Houses, before exploring a smaller one, in order to receive two unique points of view from Champagne experts, which will allow you to have different explanations that complement each other.

After Epernay, head to Aÿ-Champagne

Located only ten minutes from Epernay and 35 minutes from Reims, the small village of Aÿ-Champagne stands in the middle of a vineyard classified as Grand Cru, one of the most prestigious in the Champagne valley. The little anecdote is that the name of this charming village surrounded by hills where the vines flourish is pronounced “I-he”.

We love the atmosphere of this typical village, animated by the inhabitants and the local shopkeepers who gladly open their doors to you. For a true Champagne immersion, enjoy an aperitif at the bar in the main square, with a compulsory visit to the beautiful main street of the village and its superb Champagne houses that we love so much.

Food lovers can also enjoy some excellent restaurants with a great price-quality ratio.

If you want to taste some bubbles, we suggest you visit and tour a small local winemaker to discover Champagne in a new way and taste the creations of passionate craftsmen.

Our local champagnes are renowned throughout the world because of the quality of our terroir and the know-how of the best experts, such as that of the House of Bollinger, much appreciated by the British royal family and official Champagne of the famous James Bond. In the same vein, we also recommend the bubbles produced by the House of Billecart-Salmon, renowned for its iconic Brut Rosé cuvée.

Beer lovers can indulge themselves at Jérôme Houry, the famous Champagne brewer and creator of the Agéenne beer, who offers craft beers made with love and passion. The most curious will also have the possibility of visiting the brewery with Jérôme before finishing tasting his beers.

Don’t forget to take a short break on the bench in front of the town hall. You will leave with a small souvenir by taking a selfie next to the statue of René Lalique, a French jeweller and master glassmaker who became famous thanks to his talents in the field.

Where to sleep in Aÿ-Champagne during your weekend in Epernay? I recommend a couple of spot

If you want to spend a good night’s sleep in the area, we invite you to join Aurélien, who welcomes you in his house where he refurbished 2 apartments nestled in the heart of the village of Aÿ-Champagne. With an ideal location, you will only have to walk a few steps to have a bite to eat, sip a few bubbles of Champagne or treat yourself to a delicacy from the village bakery. The 2 apartments are located at the same address, so you can rent the whole house!

Cédric also offers 2 apartments in the same building for a total of 8 people. The apartments are very close to the market and the city center.

In addition to offering great accommodation, Cédric is a welcoming host, available and very responsive to all your requests.

Where to eat in Aÿ-Champagne?

The Rôtisserie Henry 4

Because your taste buds also deserve the best, you absolutely have to take a seat at the Rôtisserie Henri IV. Whether under the shade of the trees in the outdoor courtyard or under the superb glass roof, your table awaits you in this exceptional setting, where you can enjoy a generous and gourmet cuisine created with local products.

The little extra of this establishment is that it also serves as a wine and champagne cellar, so you can match your dishes with the best drinks of our region.

As the place is popular with locals and tourists alike, we strongly recommend making a reservation.

Info: the Rôtisserie Henri IV is located about ten minutes from Epernay and 36 minutes from Reims, and less than two hours from Paris!

• Address: 46 Boulevard Charles de Gaulle 51160 Aÿ-Champagne, France
• Tel: +33.3.26.54.77.40

Visit Pressoria : A sensory experience

This time, we invite you to take a break at the foot of the hillsides classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in a former vine pressing centre of the Maison Pommery, where a new and unique museum has been established since May 2021: Pressoria, the sensory interpretation centre of the Champagne wines of Aÿ-Champagne.

Much more than a simple cultural place, with the help of your five senses, you are invited to take part in a sensory tour around Champagne to discover all the secrets of Champagne.

We really recommend this surprising and original immersion tour, which ends with a tasting of two vintages of champagne or grape juice for the youngest, all while admiring the view of the Champagne vineyard.

Info: the Pressoria museum is located about ten minutes from Epernay and 35 minutes from Reims

• Entry fee : 18€ per person

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With this dream programme of tours, the only thing you need to worry about is blocking the dates when you will come to visit us.

And if you are lucky enough to stay in Champagne for a few more days, it will be a wonderful opportunity to discover our other favourite tours and places to visit in and around Epernay and Reims.

Don’t wait any longer for 2 days in Epernay. Come and take a break in the heart of the Champagne Valley, France!

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