The Massif de Saint Thierry & the Ardre Valley
On the outskirts of Reims, the city of the sacred, the Massif de Saint Thierry and Vallée de l'Ardre region comprises vineyards established on two large plateaus: the Tardenois and the Massif de Saint Thierry, cut by the Ardre and Vesle rivers.
CHAMPAGNE, NATURE AND HERITAGE
A GREEN SETTING
Located to the east of Reims, the Massif de Saint Thierry and Vallée de l’Ardre area boasts a rich natural and built heritage, to be discovered on land, in the air and in the depths!
Vineyards and forests form a magnificent green landscape in the Massif de Saint Thierry, surrounding villages intimately linked to the coronation of the Kings of France.
Some 15 wineries and houses bearing the “Vignobles & Découvertes ” label open their doors to you and reveal the secrets of their champagnes during a tasting and/or a visit to their winery.
An exceptional historical past
Clovis donated the Masssif de Saint-Thierry to Saint-Remi on Christmas Eve 496, as a reward for the baptism he had received.
In the 6th century, Thierry, a disciple of Saint-Remi, founded a monastery at the site known as “Mont d’Hor”. Legend has it that a white eagle flew over the hill, pointed out the site of the oratory and returned to hover over the site on Christmas Day for four years.
For 13 centuries, the monastery prospered, leading to the development of the villages of the Massif de Saint Thierry and their vineyards.
A major producer of red wines in the past, the Massif de Saint-Thierry is planted mainly with black grape varieties: pinot noir and pinot meunier.
The Champagne Route tour begins with a visit to the heritage treasures of the city of Reims, the cathedral and its famous Smiling Angel, the Palais du Tau, which houses the cathedral’s treasures and some of the original statuary.
You will then head for Tinqueux and Champigny. It’s at Merfy that the vines appear…
To see along the way
- Reims and its UNESCO World Heritage sites: Cathedral, Saint Remi Museum and Basilica, Palais du Tau
- The Champagne Houses of Reims and their kilometers of galleries dug into the chalk
- Saint Thierry Abbey, former residence of the bishops of Champagne,
- Pévy and its Romanesque church featuring a 15th-century altarpiece
- Fismes, town of Uderzo, famous illustrator of the “Asterix and Obelix” comic strips
The harvest festival
Every two years, in even-numbered years, the Association viticole du Massif de Saint-Thierry organizes its “Fête des Vendanges” in October.
The program for this sparkling festival includes old-fashioned harvesting, pressing, crushing and sweet wine tasting, disgorging and bottling demonstrations, barrel-making, handicrafts, street artists, gourmet market… This itinerant wine-tourism event reflects the terroir of the Massif de Saint Thierry, combining the discovery of vines, gastronomy, culture and tradition in a friendly, festive atmosphere.
I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT CHAMPAGNE. IF I WIN, I DESERVE IT; IF I LOSE, I NEED IT.
Napoleon Bonaparte
QUIZ
WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON METHOD USED TO MAKE ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE?
- The blend of a light white wine and a red wine from Champagne
- Maceration of black grape skins in juice
- Adding a natural colorant
RESPONSE
Champagne is the only region in France where blending is permitted to produce rosé, and the vast majority of houses use this method. The second method, known as “saignée”, is less widely used.
In the first rosé Champagne wines, an elderberry-based tint called “Liqueur de Fismes” was added to the wine to enhance the color. This use was banned in 1907.
YOUR CONTACTS
- OFFICE DE TOURISME DU GRAND REIMS – 6 RUE ROCKFELLER – 51100 REIMS – 03 26 77 45 00 – WWW.REIMS-TOURISME.COM
- FISMES RECEPTION OFFICE – 28 RUE RENÉ LETILLY – 51170 FISMES – 03 26 48 81 28
Selection of getaways
Here are a few ideas for walks in the Massif de Saint-Thierry and the Ardre Valley!
PR 20 Circuit du Massif de Saint-Thierry
Chenay
Time required for the tour
2 hours 30 minutes
Length in km
7.5 km
Starting from
Chenay
A lovel…
