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Legendary Champagne

Troyes, Condé and Reims – art, wine and history
Battleground for centuries, paradise today

 

These suggestions can be separate visits or be combined as a two-day program.

 

Although created for groups, they can be adapted to private travelers.

 

 

     

     

    • Troyes, medieval capital

     

    Situated at a junction of medieval trade routes, for centuries Troyes was almost as important as Paris (whose role grew with New World trade). As well, it was one of the few towns in northern France to escape the World Wars' destructions. Those are the reasons for the splendor of the architecture we discover.

     

    Toward 1850, its location and the presence of highly qualified labor helped it become a bustling industrial center. which outsourcing affected from the 1880's. 

     

    Today its past has become a great advantage.

     

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    Street-corner in the heart of town

     

     

    • The grand 18th century, and a château of unknown Watteaux

     

    Prior to the industrial era, French art has two great periods: the 12th century and the 17th - 18th. Its second flowering bloomed during the reign of the young Sun King (roughly 1660-1690). Fifty years later a critical mass of aristocrats had adopted and spread the taste of the French court. Its manner of art and decoration was to dominate the West until the end of the 19th century - and in some ways it still does.

     

    In the early 18th century, a marquis who had made a fortune in the East Indian trade commissioned decor from the most prominent artists of the day for his newly-purchased chateau. A jewel of 18th-century art, it is little-known – because its most important works have only recently emerged from under wallpaper. 

     

    We go from surprise to surprise.

     

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    • Reims, vineyards and beyond

     

     
    The man in green may be the marquis in this newly-found painting by Watteau.
    One aspect of our journey...

       

      We propose an inside visit of wine-making at a premier establishment, which can culminate with a drive through vineyards in cars of other decades. Or we discover one of the best of the region's 1500 small wine producers.

       

      The cathedral of Reims, varied visions of Joan of Arc and, perhaps, discovery of the town's art déco patrimony with le souper in a lovely private home...

       

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      • Costs, 1-5 visitors

      ° To guide, 500€ per day at this distance from Paris. For larger groups this fee changes, but remains reasonable.

       

      ° To PEF, 20% of guide's fee, plus dues

       

       

      ° To driver, from 50€ an hour outside Paris. A day's rate can often be negotiated.

       

      ° If relevant, we remind you of local entry fees at the end of the descriptions.

       

       

      Credits: Countryside and vineyard / Veuve Cliquot champagne; other photos / Claude Abron