Champagne Vollereaux Pique Nique 2 © Marat Anaev

A taste tour

over a weekend

The pleasure of sharing is key to this weekend of culinary delights, designed for all foodies and those who like to explore new flavours. We have put together a weekend of visits to champagne houses, tastings, exquisite restaurants and an excursion along the Champagne Tourist Route. This weekend will delight both your taste buds and your eyes!

A first day of gastronomy

in Châlons-en-Champagne

Off to the market

Go to Place Godart to discover the Halle du Marché, which has a steel construction typical of the end of the 19th century. Before admiring the colourful array of fruit and vegetables offered by the local market gardeners, take time to appreciate these magnificent halls.

Inside, you will find everything you need to prepare seasonal dishes: fruit, vegetables, cheeses, meats, fish and bread. Some stalls are made up exclusively of organic products. And a little further on, to continue your shopping, on Place du Marché aux fleurs, be sure to visit the “Meilleur Ouvrier de France”, the cheese seller, the fishmonger and the chocolate shop. A little bit of self-indulgence never hurt anyone!

Discover the market

Halles Du Marche Chalons En Champagne Mercredi Samedi © Teddy Picaude

Cathedrale Passerelle Grand Jard Vue Chalons Plage © Pascal Perin

Go for a picnic

You’ve done your shopping and have everything you need for a delicious feast! Is the sun out? Then head to the gardens where you can picnic wherever you like. If you want to have a picnic table, go to the Jard Anglais. From the footbridge, the view of the Canal Latéral and the cathedral is one of the most beautiful sights in Châlons.

If you prefer eating under cover, Place Foch (the city hall square) and Place de la République offer a wide choice of restaurants for either a quick bite to eat or to enjoy more traditional French cuisine. You are bound to find something to your liking.

A successful picnic

Visit the Joseph Perrier Champagne cellars

Make your way to 69, avenue de Paris, to fulfil your curiosity by following the guided tour of the Joseph Perrier cellars. Learn more about the history and the process of champagne production. A whole art form in itself… absolutely fascinating.

Joseph Perrier is a traditional family-run business founded in 1825. Unique in Châlons-en-Champagne, its 2000-year-old, ground-level cellars of Gallo-Roman origin stretch over three kilometres. Millions of bottles are aged in these cellars.

And, of course, visits are always completed with a tasting…

Discover

Dine in a gourmet restaurant

To conclude this delicious first day in style, head for the Jérôme Feck restaurant on the Place Monseigneur Tissier.

Jérôme Feck, a young Michelin-starred chef, welcomes you to his eponymous restaurant. Blending aromas and wines, with a keen taste for innovation and a love of tradition, provides a sophisticated touch to this enchanting place.

Discover

Day 2

Visit la Brasserie Orjy

Nathalie and Jacques welcome you to Juvigny (10 km far from Châlons) for a tour of their brewery. They will explain all the stages involved in making their beer before inviting you to taste their range of brews (4 to 6 beers depending on the season): blonde, amber, white, seasonal and triple.

Orjy, formed from “Orge” meaning barley, and “Juvigny” where the brewery is based, is a name you’ll certainly remember!

Visit to Chocolaterie Thibaut

Xavier invites you to his atelier in Pierry (35km from Châlons) to discover the secrets of making his delicious chocolates and his speciality, the champagne liqueur cork.

For a fun moment with family or friends, you can also book a chocolate making workshop where tasting and good humour are the order of the day.

On the way…

Take the Champagne tourist route

From Juvigny to Pierry, follow the Champagne Tourist Route and take time to admire the beauty of the hillsides and the wealth of our heritage. Fully signposted, the road winds through the vineyards, over jagged hillsides where magnificent Champagne villages, mansions, churches and breath-taking views cling to the horizon.

Wine growers welcome you to stop by. They will explain their work and expertise and offer you the chance to chat with them over tastings and tours of their cellars.

Did you know? Since 2015, the hillsides, houses and cellars of Champagne have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.