Champagne and Les Crayères
The Champagne is one of the particularly attractive and culturally and historically significant areas of France. In the diverse, sunny region in the north-east of the country, intensive agriculture and wine-growing have been practiced for thousands of years. The sparkling wines from Champagne are recognized worldwide and often carry the renowned “Champagne” certificate of origin. Travelers from all over Europe and overseas come to Champagne every year to taste excellent wines, cremants and, of course, champagne.
The Champagne region is dominated by river landscapes, vineyards in the Montois Bergland, the dry Champagne Seche with the huge “Marais de Saint Gonds” swamp and large fields. To the east are the forests of the Argonne. The many small vineyards, typical villages and some towns invite you to relax. A round trip through Champagne is particularly recommended for wine lovers and gourmets, but also for those who are enthusiastic about architecture.
Reims and Les Crayères
Particularly noteworthy is the Château Les Crayères, which is now one of the best hotels in France. The country castle stands in a seven-hectare park on the outskirts of Reims. It was built from 1902 to 1904 by the Pommery family, who run the world-famous Pommery champagne house and wine-growing region in the immediate vicinity. The beautiful historic country estate has been extensively restored and today offers guests 20 luxurious suites, a wine cellar with 250 Grand Crus and 600 champagne brands as well as a gourmet restaurant under the leadership of star chef Philippe Mille.
Alsace Wine Route
The mild climate on the slopes of Alsace ensures the splendid ripening of the vines. The grapes are full of delicious aromas – and so the wines from Alsace are of the highest quality. Anyone who has ever enjoyed a “Sélection de grains nobles”, a “Vendanges Tardives”, a great “Grand Cru” or a tangy Crémant will love them.
The Alsace Wine Route
Over a length of 170 kilometers, the wine route meanders from north to south through hilly vineyards. In its course, 70 of the most beautiful Alsatian wine villages are crossed.
Between the “Porte de Marlenheim” and the “Porte de Thann”, hospitable wine cellars, romantic wine taverns and interesting educational wine trails invite you to try the seven nuanced grape varieties of Alsace. There are also many sightseeing highlights that are closely linked to legends, traditions and stories from Alsace.
The best combination of wine and culture is ensured everywhere in Alsace: In the sunny months between May and October, hundreds of winemaking and wine festivals take place here. It is precisely at this time that the vineyards are in their most beautiful splendor – from soft green in spring to bright orange in autumn.
From north to south
On the northern section of the wine route, it is worth making a detour to Cleebourg and Wissembourg, where there are numerous opportunities to enjoy the excellent crémants and white wines.
The “Marathon du Vignoble” is held every year between Marlenheim and Molsheim, a few kilometers from Strasbourg. The sunny vineyards “Piémont” and “Couronne d’Or” offer unique views over the region – the village of Obernai, the monastery of Mont Saint-Odile and the Charterhouse of Molsheim are well worth a visit.
The “Coeur d’Alsace” wine-growing region is located between the Haut-Kœnigsbourg castle and Mont Saint-Odile. This is where the Wine Route and the Romantic Road meet.
Medieval places such as Kaysersberg and Riquewihr, Neuf-Brisach and Eguisheim and not to forget Colmar invite you to visit the wine-growing region “Terre & Vins au Pays de Colmar”. Colmar is the wine capital of Alsace, and the Isenheim Altarpiece is world-famous here.
In the south of the wine route the vineyards are getting steeper and steeper. Here between Orschwihr and Thann you even have to secure yourself with ropes during the grape harvest. All the exhibits relating to viticulture in the museum in Thann, where you should also see the Saint-Thiébaut collegiate church, are extremely interesting. There is also a renowned wine museum in Wuenheim. The Dominican monastery in Guebwiller and the old, romantic city of Cernay are also interesting.
Eugenie les Bains
Eugenie les Bains is a small town in Aquitaine. The village in southwest France has been known as a health resort with health-promoting medicinal water springs since the 19th century. At the beginning of the spa business, it was mainly nobles who came to receive treatment for various diseases. Now holidaymakers from all over the country enjoy the summer freshness in the beautiful region.
Since star chef Michel Guerard founded an academy for healthy cuisine and weight loss in the famous hotel “Les Pres de Eugenie” a few years ago, the place has received the nickname “France’s first weight loss village” by international media.
Eugenie les Bains: charming and calm
Eugenie les Bains has around 500 residents and is visited by spa guests as well as day trippers and as part of round trips. Particularly worth seeing are the spa facilities with the park, which was laid out in the 19th century and has an imposing old tree population. In the center of the park there is an enchanting pond with rose beds and water cascades. It is framed by resting places and walking paths that lead to the thermal baths.
Further gardens and cycling and hiking trails extend around the town center. The village is rather spacious and characterized by greenery. Around the hotel “Les Pres de Eugenie” there is a park of around seven hectares, in which there is also a spacious wellness area and the cooking academy.
The center of the village center is the late medieval church of Sainte Eugenie and the René Villard-Boulevard, the small and charming shopping street. In the vicinity, it is worth visiting the abbey church of Saint Sever and a tour of the small town of Mont-de-Marsan, which is crossed by three rivers.
