The Sézannais and Petit Morin hillsides
The hillsides of the Sézannais and Petit Morin, joining the Marne and Aube rivers, provide an opportunity to discover Brie Champenoise and Villenauxe la Grande.
CHAMPAGNE, NATURE AND HERITAGE
BETWEEN VINEYARDS, FORESTS, MARSHES AND PONDS
In the extension of the Côte des Blancs vineyards, south-west of Epernay, the Coteaux du Sézannais et du Petit-Morin offer you the chance to discover an extremely rich wine-growing, historical, architectural and natural heritage.
In this kingdom of Chardonnay, almost 300 winemakers work the 2,300 hectares planted with vines.
The Association de Promotion des 2 coteaux works to boost and promote the varied wine tourism on offer in this region, where producers and locals share their love of the land with you!
Twenty or so cellars 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.
unsuspected riches
For lovers of fine stonework, a stroll through the cobbled streets of Sézanne is a must. This ancient medieval town has been classified as a “Petite cité de caractère®”. Strollers will be enchanted by the tree-lined malls that follow the route of the old fortifications, the remains of guard towers and walls, the church and chapel…
The Traconne forest and the Marais de Saint Gond with its vast peat bog, wet meadows, ponds and woods promise a breath of nature and greenery.
History buffs will discover that the country’s destiny was played out here on two occasions. First at Champaubert, where the commemorative column celebrates Napoleon’s 1814 victory in the French campaign. Then at Mondement, where a 35-metre menhir on a natural balcony overlooking the Saint Gond marshes represents the milestone against which the invaders stumbled on September 9, 1914.
The Champagne Tourist Route starts from Bergères les Vertus.
Between bocage, marshes and vineyards, the route reveals a typology that combines vineyard plots interspersed with copses and fields in an undulating landscape.
Many beautiful stones await you: castles (Montmort-Lucy, Etoges), churches (Allemant, Barbonne-Fayel, Vert-Toulon…) abbeys (Notre Deme du Reclus, Baye, Oyes) as well as menhirs, dolmens…
TO SEE ON THE WAY
- The interpretation trail to discover the Marais de Saint Gond
- Montmort and Etoges castles
- Notre Dame du Reclus Abbey
- The Monument commémoratif de la première bataille de la Marne at Mondement
- Sézanne through its fortifications, mill, convent and church
- Villenauxe la Grande and the contemporary stained glass windows of the Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul church
Champagne puts life on a dream scale
Paul Guth
QUIZ
What is the most widely planted grape variety in Champagne?
- The miller
- Chardonnay
- Pinot noir
Answer
Pinot noir occupies 38% of the vineyard, followed by meunier (34%) and chardonnay (28%).
The other grape varieties authorized in Champagne (Arbanne, Petit Meslier, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris or Fromenteau) cover only a few dozen hectares…
YOUR CONTACTS
- OFFICE DE TOURISME DE SÉZANNE – PLACE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE – 51120 SÉZANNE – 03 26 80 54 13 – WWW.SEZANNE-TOURISME.FR
- OFFICE DE TOURISME DE MONTMIRAIL – 4 PLACE RÉMY-PETIT – 51210 MONTMIRAIL – 03 26 81 40 05- WWW.MONTMIRAIL-TOURISME.EU
Selection of getaways
Find out more about some of our ideas for walks to discover the Sézannais hillsides!
Musée de la Victoire de la Marne
Mondement-Montgivroux
The monument is a 35-metre high monolith erected to commemorate the first victory of the Marne in…
Abbaye Notre Dame du Reclus
Talus-Saint-Prix
In a very restful, preserved green setting, the Cistercian abbey of Notre-Dame du Reclus was foun…