Châlons-en-Champagne is less well known than its neighbors Reims and Epernay, yet it’s well worth a visit. With its rich historical heritage, architectural diversity, boat trips, gardens in the heart of town, champagne and numerous cultural events, the city offers an atmosphere that is both peaceful and dynamic.

A wealth of riches

Châlons-en-Champagne is the perfect place for history buffs and heritage lovers. While the Gallo-Roman era left no traces, the Middle Ages were more generous. Châlons-en-Champagne is home to some of the finest examples of religious, Romanesque and Gothic architecture in France, to be discovered as you wander through its streets and alleys…

Not to be missed:

St. Stephen’s Cathedral: impressive Gothic architecture, magnificent stained glass windows and a collection of liturgical objects.
The Collégiale Notre-Dame-en-Vaux, a UNESCO gem: One of the town’s most impressive buildings. It boasts one of the largest carillons in Europe, with 56 bells, as well as admirable stained glass windows. Discover its cloister, sundial and richly carved capitals.
Chalonnais architecture is a patchwork of medieval, classical and contemporary styles.
And also: the town hall, the Porte Sainte-Croix, the Caves Médiévales, the Saint-Alpin church, the Halles du Marché, the Cirque Historique…
The Fine Arts Museum and the Cloister Museum of Notre-Dame-en-Vaux

Nature in the heart of the city

Here, water and greenery are king! No less than 11 hectares of greenery are divided into three gardens, each with its own style. Le Petit Jard, classified as an outstanding garden and home to an arboretum and one of the town’s most emblematic monuments, the Château du Marché. The Grand Jard, a formal garden planted with chestnut and lime trees, and its vast cove, home to some rare species of birds. Families will love it here for a picnic or a break in the park or at the skate-park. And last but not least, the Jard Anglais, accessed via a pretty footbridge offering a breathtaking view of Saint Etienne’s Cathedral.

A “hair-raising” video about Châlons-en-Champagne

After Wake-Up Châlons en 2020, the Tourist Office is renewing its colorful, dynamic and innovative communication with a second breathtaking video!

This 6-minute short is an action film reminiscent of a world-famous film spy, with sports cars, motorcycles, jet skis, drones and even helicopters! As a backdrop, the iconic sites of Châlons-en-Champagne are presented from an offbeat angle.

There are also a number of Great War memorial sites in the vicinity of Châlons-en-Champagne, such as the Marne 14-18 Interpretation Center in Suippes, with its rich iconographic collection, and the Chapelle Russe in Saint-Hilaire-le-Temple, which perpetuates the memory of the soldiers who fell there during the conflict.

Culture & entertainment

City of Pierre Dac, Châlons-en-Champagne cultivates the art of showmanship!

Every year in June, the Furies Festival, a circus and street art festival, blows a wind of madness through the streets of the town.
Then it’s time for music, with the Festival des Musiques d’Ici et d’Ailleurs and five weeks of artistic discoveries and cross-fertilization in July and August.
In early September, the Foire de Châlons, France’s 2nd largest agricultural and trade fair, and its Foire en Scène Festival are the must-see back-to-school events.
In October, War on Screen, a unique international festival tackles the theme of war and conflict on screen.

Châlons-en-Champagne, a circus town, also has the honor of being home to the Centre National des Arts du Cirque , where international artists are trained to perform on stages the world over.

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Unesco heritage

Two religious buildings are listed as Unesco World Heritage Sites on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela.

The collegiate church of Notre Dame en Vaux is a veritable jewel, where Romanesque and Gothic art blend harmoniously. Admirable 15th-century stained glass windows await visitors, and the 56-bell carillon, one of the largest in Europe, can be heard on organized tours that include a climb up the tower.

A few kilometers away, the Basilique de l’Epine, a veritable stone lace, was built on the very spot where, in 1400, the Virgin Mary appeared to a shepherd in a burning bush. Victor Hugo called it “the splendid flower of Gothic architecture”, and its two towers and rare rood screen are awe-inspiring.

Boat rides

Welcome aboard the Eau’dyssée boat trip, the must-do tour of Châlons-en-Champagne. For 40 minutes, the pilots reveal the secrets of Châlons’ heritage. The boat takes you to places you can’t go on foot, and even under the city in 2 underground galleries. A must-do!

Métamorph’eauses, travelling light show

Building on the success of its boat trips, the Tourist Office decided a few years ago to develop a night-time itinerary, with a travelling sound and light show, the only one of its kind in Europe! With Métamorph’eau’ses, you’ll rediscover the city’s heritage in a whole new way, sublimated by a phantasmagorical scenography where light and shadow reveal imaginary realities…

Champagne in Châlons

THE HOUSE OF CHAMPAGNE JOSEPH PERRIER

The Joseph Perrier Champagne House is the only one in Châlons-en-Champagne that can be visited. Sheltered beneath 2,000-year-old Gallo-Roman chalk pits, the Joseph Perrier cellars and their 3 kilometers of galleries are historic. These cellars, used for processing, ageing and storing wine, are unique in that they are all on one level, a rarity in Champagne.

For 1h30, experience a unique moment in this stone cathedral, discover some of the secrets of the champagne-making process and taste the precious nectar at the end of the tour.

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RUES DES ILLUSTRES

Many of them grew up in Châlons-en-Champagne before leaving their name to posterity…

Look for them in the city’s streets and monuments! At the bottom of Rue du Lycée stands a sculpture of JEAN TALON, the first intendant of today’s province of Quebec, born in 1625; continuing on, you pass the Lycée Bayen, named after PIERRE BAYEN, a member of the Institut, born in 1725. NICOLAS APPERT, inventor of canned food, was born at 16 Place St Jean in 1749, but grew up at 2 Rue Léon Bourgeois.

Let’s also remember JULES GARINET, the famous collector, whose mansion on rue Pasteur was bequeathed to the town by his widow.ETIENNE OEHMICHEN (1884), inventor of the helicopter, was born at no. 3 Boulevard Vaubécourt; the great humorist PIERRE DAC, whose real name was André Isaac, was born in 1893 at 70 rue de Marne. Finally, Jean Cabut, alias CABU, was born and raised in Châlons, his home town. Murdered on January 7, 2015 in Paris during the jihadist attack on the editorial offices of Charlie Hebdo, he is now being honored at the Duduchothèque. Discover how K-Bu became Cabu in this exhibition, reading, animation, research and learning space.