Experience Champagne & the East
Champagne & The East Travel Guide
Travel to Champagne & the East in France and discover fantastic vineyards, medieval villages, scenic hikes and local cuisine.
Champagne & The East draws visitors with rolling vineyards, distinctive architecture, and scenic valleys. The region offers wine cellars, gastronomic traditions, and half-timbered houses. Its vineyard trails appeal to wine enthusiasts, while local markets present fresh produce and artisan goods. Medieval fortresses, cathedrals, and museums give a direct link to centuries of heritage. Outdoor areas provide calm forests and panoramic viewpoints. Local events celebrate cross-border influences that enhance cultural experiences. Travelers appreciate the convenient location between major European capitals. This mix of heritage, natural beauty, and refined flavors makes the area a top choice for travelling in France.
Champagne & The East – Location and importance for tourism
Champagne & The East occupies an area in northeastern France, near the borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and Switzerland. This position makes it a gateway for cross-continental travel. Reims, famous for its Gothic cathedral, anchors the Champagne region, while Alsace sits close to the Rhine River. The Vosges range, with its forested peaks, separates Alsace from Lorraine and hosts natural parks. This combination of urban centers, vineyard landscapes, and mountainous terrain attracts different types of travelers seeking cultural immersion, nature-based pursuits, or gastronomic delights. The region’s trade routes have fostered interactions that shaped architecture, language, and customs, resulting in a blend of French and Germanic influences. This cultural mosaic appeals to visitors who want more than standard sightseeing. Tour operators often include Champagne & The East in their itineraries, highlighting the area’s architectural wonders, wine heritage, and scenic roads, all essential elements for travelling in France.
Champagne tastings
Taste champagnes in Reims, highlighting France’s sparkling traditions.
Learning the vineyard
Study vineyards in Reims through explorations and tastings.
Diving into history
Read Champagne region’s past, appreciating centuries-old cultural significance.
Why travel to Champagne & The East
Champagne & The East offers a broad selection of experiences that suit diverse interests. Many people arrive to taste Champagne at its source, sampling various cuvées in atmospheric cellars. Others are drawn by Alsace’s half-timbered towns, where geraniums adorn windowsills and local folklore thrives. The region has centuries of history, with remnants of the Holy Roman Empire, Franco-Prussian conflicts, and shifting borders that influenced dialects and culinary habits. Local tales often reference the storks of Alsace, seen nesting on rooftops and believed to bring good luck. This tradition adds charm to village life.
Gastronomy forms a key part of any visit. Munster cheese, tarte flambée, and choucroute highlight local produce, while the Vosges mountains yield berries and wild mushrooms for seasonal dishes. Many restaurants pair these with wines like Riesling or Gewurztraminer, giving travelers a flavor experience.
In terms of architecture, Champagne features regal châteaux and the famed Cathedral of Reims, where French monarchs were once crowned. Alsace’s churches blend Romanesque and Gothic elements, and hillside ruins recall feudal times. The Vosges present a different dimension with forested trails and hidden lakes, giving a refreshing pause from city sightseeing.
Festivals are common throughout the year, celebrating harvests, Christmas markets, and local crafts. These events highlight cross-border influences, with distinct blends of French and Germanic styles. Visitors can engage with artisans, learn about weaving traditions, and observe regional music performances. The welcome is often warm, and many communities truly enjoy sharing their heritage.
Additionally, the region has reliable trains and highways, which simplifies planning. Whether you prefer sipping world-class Champagne, strolling through storybook villages, or exploring tranquil mountain passes, there is a wide range of activities for every age group. This diversity makes travelling in Champagne & The East an appealing choice for those seeking variety.
Main cities and accesses
Reims is a central point in Champagne & The East . It is around 145 km from Paris, reachable by train in under an hour. High-speed rail tickets can cost from €25 to €50, depending on booking dates. Strasbourg, capital of Alsace, sits roughly 490 km east of Paris. The TGV connects them in about two hours and 20 minutes, with fares starting near €30. Colmar, celebrated for its canals and historic center, is also on a direct rail line from Strasbourg, with tickets around €15. For those preferring to drive, rental cars in France can average €40 to €60 per day.
Metz and Nancy, important stops in Lorraine, offer well-preserved city centers with cathedrals, art galleries, and lively squares. Buses link them to other urban hubs at moderate prices. Mulhouse, located near Switzerland and Germany, is known for its museums dedicated to the automobile and the railway. To explore the Vosges area, regional trains and buses serve towns like Saint-Dié-des-Vosges or Gérardmer. Many travelers choose a mix of train rides and car rental to access scenic routes. This flexibility ensures movement across the region and makes travelling in Champagne & The East convenient for all budgets.
Strasbourg 's old charm
Encounter Strasbourg’s heritage, bridging French and German influences.
Nature in the Vosges
Experience forests, lakes, and panoramic vistas in Vosges.
Cycle and wine
Pedal routes while savoring fine wines in Champagne.
Local Attractions and Landmarks
The Champagne region is known for the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, lined with champagne houses like Moët & Chandon. Cellar tours cost around €20 to €30, and tastings usually run daily from late morning until late afternoon. Reims Cathedral is another highlight, featuring stained glass windows. Entry is free, though guided tours might have a separate fee. Hautvillers, the village linked to Dom Pérignon, has vineyards ideal for a half-day trip.
Moving east, Strasbourg is famous for its Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Petite France quarter with canals and half-timbered buildings. The cathedral’s astronomical clock puts on a show at midday. Access is free to the main nave, but the tower climb costs about €5. The European institutions area provides an insight into governance structures, and guided visits are possible on select dates.
Colmar is known for its Unterlinden Museum, housing the Isenheim Altarpiece. Entry fees start at around €13, and it closes on Tuesdays. The Little Venice district of Colmar showcases colorful houses along the canal, best seen on a boat ride costing about €7 per person. Another attraction is the Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg, perched on a hilltop with panoramic views. Tickets are approximately €9, and it opens most days from 9 am.
In Lorraine, Metz Cathedral hosts one of the tallest naves in France, with stained glass by Marc Chagall. Entrance is free, and evenings can include light displays. Centre Pompidou-Metz exhibits contemporary art; admission can go up to €10 depending on the exhibition.
Up in the Vosges, Gerardmer and La Bresse boast skiing opportunities in winter and hiking trails in summer. Lift passes in winter range from €20 to €35 per day, and the best months for snow are January to February. In warmer seasons, these resorts offer lake activities, mountain biking, and scenic viewpoints. Regional nature parks, such as Ballons des Vosges, allow travelers to see wildlife experience quieter landscapes. Some trails are open year-round, though spring and autumn have milder weather.
This blend of historical wonders, cultural sites, and outdoor pursuits creates a varied list of what to do in Champagne & The East .
Activities and Experiences in Champagne & The East
Outdoor enthusiasts can explore vineyard walks in Champagne or Alsace, where signposted routes pass through villages and rolling hills. Guides may provide insight into viticulture methods, grape varieties, and local traditions. Cycling along the Alsace Wine Route is another popular option, with bike rentals available in towns like Strasbourg or Colmar. Helmets and locks are typically included, and day rates can start at €15. In the Vosges, hiking is a favorite pastime, with trails for beginners and experts, plus scenic viewpoints over forested valleys. During winter, these same slopes host skiing and snowshoeing.
Culture lovers can attend wine festivals, open-air markets, or music events that reflect the region’s blend of influences. In Alsace, many villages hold weekend celebrations that feature folk dancing, local crafts, and seasonal food specialties. Christmas markets, especially in Strasbourg and Colmar, transform public squares into festive areas selling decorations, mulled wine, and gingerbread. The lights and ambience attract visitors each December.
For hands-on learning, culinary workshops offer the chance to try cheese-making, pastry techniques, or chocolate art. Vineyards might welcome participants for grape-picking, pressing, or tasting sessions. Beer enthusiasts could look into brewery tours, given Alsace’s brewing heritage. Booking ahead is advised for workshops, with costs ranging between €30 and €60 depending on duration and materials.
Families enjoy the region’s open farms or educational centers, where children can see farm animals and understand traditional production methods. These venues sometimes arrange orchard visits or fruit-picking in season. Boat rides on canals, especially in Colmar’s Little Venice, provide sightseeing. Elsewhere, older kids might appreciate rope courses or outdoor parks in the Vosges, featuring zip lines and treetop routes.
History buffs can find battlefield sites from the World Wars or follow memorial trails in Alsace and Lorraine. Guided tours share detailed context about the region’s complex past. Monuments, cemeteries, and museums honor events and local resilience.
Whether your focus is on tasting regional products, exploring scenic paths, or immersing yourself in local customs, these activities add depth to the experience of travelling in Champagne & The East . They also ensure a variety of options for all ages.
The wine trails
Travel Alsace’s wine trails, encountering villages and vineyards.
Cooking with the best
Cook alongside culinary experts in France’s Champagne region.
Creativity in the plate
Enjoy inventive plating and tastes during fine dining.
Food and Cuisine
Champagne & The East has a culinary landscape influenced by both French and Germanic traditions. Champagne itself is integral to many meals, often served as an aperitif or paired with local delicacies. The region produces a range of options. Alongside Champagne, beers from Alsace are popular.
Typical Alsatian dishes include choucroute garnie, featuring sauerkraut with sausages, pork cuts, and potatoes. Tarte flambée (Flammekueche), a thin dough topped with cream, onions, and bacon. Baeckeoffe, a hearty stew of marinated meats and vegetables. Many restaurants in Strasbourg and Colmar serve these specialties in winstubs, taverns that emphasize local flavors.
Cheese enthusiasts will appreciate Munster, a robust variety from the Vosges mountains. It pairs well with local wines like Gewurztraminer or Pinot Gris. Riesling is another signature white wine, known for its acidity and aromatic profile. For those with a sweet tooth, kougelhopf is a traditional brioche-like cake with raisins, while bredele cookies fill the markets during Christmas season.
Many towns in Champagne & The East host weekly markets, providing fresh produce, cheeses, charcuterie, and seasonal items. Prices vary, but snacking on local pastries can be affordable and satisfying. Street food might include pretzels or crêpes, often sold from stalls in main squares.
Gastronomic restaurants are also present, with venues in Reims, Strasbourg, and elsewhere. These establishments can often cost about €100 per person, but highlight local ingredients. Whether you prefer winstubs or fine dining, the food scene offers a broad range of tastes for those travelling in France.
Where to stay in Champagne & The East
Accommodations in Champagne & The East vary from boutique hotels to budget-friendly lodgings. In Reims, La Caserne Chanzy Hotel & Spa offers modern rooms opposite the cathedral, with prices starting at €180 per night. For a mid-range option, Hôtel de la Paix provides comfortable rooms near the city center at around €100 per night. In Strasbourg, the Hotel Cathedrale sits across from the Notre-Dame, with rates from €120. Travelers seeking lower-cost options can look into hostels or guesthouses in outlying districts, which can dip below €50 per night.
In Alsace’s smaller towns, many chambres d’hôtes (B&Bs) provide authentic atmospheres. Colmar has rustic half-timbered apartments, often booked via vacation rental platforms. For nature lovers, the Vosges region has mountain chalets or campgrounds. Prices for basic campsites can be under €20 per night, while cabins range from €60 upward, depending on amenities.
Access is generally convenient by train or car, so staying in one central area and day-tripping to nearby attractions is practical. It is a good idea to book in advance, during high season or festivals. This range of choices allows everyone to find where to stay in Champagne & The East based on preference and budget.
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