The wine route to Champagne

On the steps of the Sacré-Coeur, the City of Light stretches out before you. With accordion music drifting through the air, Paris resembles the most beautiful of postcards. At the bottom of the stairs, take a brief look through the Marché Saint-Pierre, famous for its fabrics. This is already a different atmosphere, part of the beautiful patchwork of Paris...

Opened in the splendid Grand Stables in 2013, the Museum of the Horse intends to be both an art and ethological museum. It houses more than 200 pieces and artworks relating to the horse and its history. Visitors can learn about the different breeds of horse around the world, and also their role in hunting and warfare. You pass through paintings by masters such as Rubens, Poussin or Géricault. Horse-drawn carriages, Berlins and all the wooden carousel horses are presented along a modern and inventive tour. Last and not least, don't miss the equestrian shows devoted to the art of Haute Ecole dressage.

In Soissons, there is a splendid Gothic cathedral and a beautiful abbey called Saint-Jean-des-Vignes. Built from limestone, the “white” town of Soissons was chosen by King Clovis as his capital. In the northern arm of the transept of the cathedral, don't miss the Adoration of the Shepherds, a painting by the great Flemish artist Rubens.

It was in February 1918 that the first Americans arrived on the French front in the Chavignon and Braye-en-Laonnois sector of the Chemin des Dames. The men of the 26th Infantry Division received training here alongside the French combatants before suffering their first losses. Many traces of the fighting are still visible in the quarries of Rouge-Maison and Froidmont.

Listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO, Reims Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. It was long considered the cradle of the kings of France, whose coronations took place here. Construction began in 1211 and there are more than 2,300 statues on the building. In the middle of the “gallery of kings”, made up of 56 gigantic statues, you will find Clovis, who was baptised here at the end of the 5th century. The reconstruction of the cathedral's roof following the bombings of the First World War is thanks to the generosity of John D. Rockefeller (among other patrons).

Located not far from the town centre, the Pommery company offers three types of visit, from the production of champagne and the history of the company, to tours of the fermenting room, the cellars and the large buildings, as well as an exhibition of contemporary art.

Taittinger is one of the last great Champagne producers to have kept its independence and to bear the name of its directors, a guarantee of uninterrupted know-how. Come and discover the history and cellars of this beautiful family home. This journey back in time will take you to the ruins of Saint-Nicaise Abbey dating from the 13th century, and then to the sumptuous Gallo-Roman chalk quarries.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, this former archiepiscopal and royal residence bears testament to the coronations of 32 kings of France, from the 11th century to Charles X. Today, the superb palace houses the biggest collection of stone statuary in France, consisting of sculptures removed from the cathedral. A truly unique site.

This is the birthplace of Chardonnay. From épernay to the pretty medieval town of Sézanne, the Côte des Blancs trail takes you into the real heart of the vineyards. Rendezvous in the hamlet of Chavot-Courcourt, whose charming church dominates a landscape of grapes. There are many bucolic stops along this scenic route, including the Romanesque church in Cuis, the frescos in Avize and the charming back streets of Oger.