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The official Champagne Tourist Route comprises six different marked trails totaling more than 370 miles and linking the region’s principal wine-growing regions, Champagne cellars, and vineyards. Stop off in Epernay to stroll down the Avenue de Champagne, sip Chardonnay in the Côte des Blancs, then cycle through the green vales of the Côte de Bar.
Just an hour’s drive north of Reims, the wooded hills and untamed countryside of the Ardennes Regional Natural Park are peppered with WWI and WWII battlefields, sleepy rural villages, and rocky cliffs. Mountain bike enthusiasts will be in their element here, but you can also hike the hilltops, explore natural caves, and camp out in the wilderness.
Summer, especially July-Aug, brings huge crowds to Reims, and it’s worth timing your visit for the quieter (and cheaper) months of spring or fall instead. Speaking of fall, this is harvest time at the region’s many Champagne vineyards and the ideal time for tasting. The main camping season runs from April through October, but don’t be put off by a winter visit—Reims Christmas markets are rightly popular, and seasonal snowfall renders the city even more magical.