Epernay was founded by tanners in the 5th century and became the fiefdom of the Counts of Champagne before being annexed to the kingdom of France. Its fifteen centuries of turbulent history have left their traces on the winding streets of this flower-bedecked city. Epernay, in the heart of the Champagne vineyards, is the ideal place to start exploring the top Champagne producers: from Marne Valley to the Mountain of Reims, cellars of international renown offer you their most famous vintages. And you simply must dine at the local restaurants where regional flair creates a generous cuisine, a symbol, if such were needed, of the French way of life.