Destination 5 out of 5 - Northern France & Champagne
Some of you will have a destination in mind but others will follow the wind in the hope of creating interesting and memorable experiences. A motorhome gives you the freedom to roam with all the home luxuries and without constraints. There’s so much to see and do throughout the UK and across mainland Europe, which often means it’s difficult to decide where to spend your time away. We’ve compiled a list of our 5 favourite places, as recommended by staff and past customers. This is our final post, and includes our suggested route in the form of an interactive map below.
5. Northern France and Champagne – 1/2 days – 106 miles (170km)
For those wanting to get over to the continent but not travel great distances, the area of France to the North and East of Paris has a wealth of interesting historical landmarks, quaint villages and of course fantastic food and fresh produce. The predominantly flat landscape has areas of great historical significant from the 1st World War, and you will find numerous monuments and museums reflecting the impact this had on the communities there and abroad.
Notable towns to visit to the north of Paris are Senlis, which has a beautiful Gothic Cathedral and an interesting Roman Museum. Chantilly has the impressive Chateau de Chantilly and the gardens and animals of the Potager des Princes which are well worth an explore.
Covering the chalk plains and hills of eastern France, between Paris and Lorraine, Champagne is home to the most famous sparkling wines in the world. With Épernay at the heart of the Champagne region and home to the impressive architecture of the renowned Champagne houses you can justify spending a bit of time here.
Before stopping off at a winemaker and his cellar, it is worth a detour to the idyllic village of Hautvillers, just north of Épernay, which is known as the birthplace of champagne. On Rue Dom Pérignon, just by the abbey where 300 years ago, the Bénedectine monk is said to have invented the process of double fermentation that creates champagne's unique bubbles (although, sacre bleu, it now seems it was discovered sometime earlier by a perfidious Englishman, Christopher Merret).
Just around the corner you’ll find the family run Champagne Tribaut, which is definitely worth a visit. The Tribauts are known as as "Récoltant Manipulant", which means they cultivate and harvest the grapes, then sell on a large part to the grandes maisons de champagne such as Krug or Taittinger. With the left over grapes they produce 150,000 bottles themselves, and tastings are held either indoors in a cosy salon, or outside on a sunny terrace with an endless panorama of the geometric vineyards. Their tastings are free and the champagne is affordable, and they’re also happy to arrange tours of their cellar to explain how champagne is made.
You may find yourself wanting to spend more time in this fascinating region, it’s well worth it as there is so much to see and do.
If you've got any more travel suggestions throughout the French Alps please feel free to send them over!