Épernay

Épernay is one of the most beautiful and tranquil places to visit in France.  More importantly though, Épernay is home for some of the most prestigious champagne houses.  A stroll down Avenue de CHAMPAGNE and you will find Perrier-Jouët, Pol Roger, Mercier, Michel Gonet,  Moët et Chandon among many others.  The champagne houses on this Avenue are impressive and if you are adventurous you will take a tour through an underground cellar.  Mercier has one of the largest underground cellars that stretches for miles and holds millions of bottles of champagne. The champagne cellar tour at Mercier is about 45 minutes and you will see caves full of dusty bottles of champagne.  It is an informative tour which shares the history of the champagne house and the underground cellar which was built in 1871 and after the tour you can sample some of their finest champagnes. For freedom to explore many different champagne houses in the region, I recommend renting a car in Paris and driving the short 1.5 hour drive to Épernay.  With a car you are able to explore other communes with fantastic champagne houses.  Another favorite commune is Bouzy where you will find a few treasured champagne houses that I love - Camille Savès, P. Louis Martin, and Paul Clouet.