Parc Naturel Regional de la Montagne de Reims

Welcome to the Parc Naturel Regional de la Montagne de Reims, a landscape of profound geological and historical significance. As we stand here, just south of the historic city of Rance—or Reams, as our American colleagues might…

To truly appreciate the Montagne de Reims, one must descend beneath its surface. The sources highlight that there are over two hundred kilometers of caves and caverns snaking under the city and the surrounding hills. …

Rising unexpectedly from a sea of green leaves on the slopes of the Montagne de Reims is the Phare de Vair-zeh-nay. It is a lighthouse, but you will find no ocean here, only an endless undulating ocean of Pinot Noir vines. …

Within the dense canopy of the Montagne de Reims forest lies one of the world's strangest botanical phenomena: the Faux de Vair-zee. These are twisted, stunted beech trees—scientifically known as Fagus sylvatica tortuosa—that…

As we descend toward the village of My-ee-Champagne, we enter the heart of 'Grand Cru' territory. In the hierarchical world of Champagne, this is the highest designation a vineyard can receive, a testament to the exceptional…

While the vineyards get most of the glory, the 'cap' of the Montagne de Reims—the forested summit of the plateau—is ecologically vital. This dense woodland acts as a natural water filter and a climate regulator for the vines…

No tour of the Montagne de Reims would be complete without visiting the southern fringes near the village of Oh-vee-yay. It was here, in the Abbey of Saint-Pierre, that a Benedictine monk named Dom Perignon lived and worked in…

As we conclude our journey through the Parc Naturel Regional de la Montagne de Reims, I hope you have gained an appreciation for the complexity of this landscape. It is far more than just a backdrop for a glass of bubbly; it is a…