Scenic drives through Champagne
Champagne is more than one wine region: from the cathedral city of Reims and the cellars of Épernay to the chalk slopes of the Côte des Blancs and the quiet Pinot Noir hills of the Aube. These are our 5 measured Champagne routes, each with its own character and its own district. Drive them as they are by car, convertible or motorbike, or start any route from your own address.
The five routes on the map of Champagne
Each colour is one route. Click a line to open the route, or filter with the buttons: one glance shows which drive fits your base in the region.
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Indicative line between the towns of each route (not the exact road geometry). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Five measured drives through Champagne
Reims to Épernay: the scenic drive
The icons in one drive: the Gothic coronation cathedral of Reims, the vineyard road over the Montagne de Reims with the Verzenay lighthouse as a viewpoint over the vines, the fairy-tale forest of twisted beeches at Verzy and the UNESCO Avenue de Champagne in Épernay. Plan for half a day to a full day.
The champagne heritage route from Reims to Épernay
History and cellars, even in the rain: the kilometres of UNESCO chalk cellars under Reims, the Romanesque basilica of Saint-Remi, the village of Hautvillers where Dom Pérignon is buried and the grand cru slopes of Aÿ. Mostly indoors, so weather- and winter-proof. Half a day to a full day.
A two-day drive through the Marne Valley
A weekend along the river: the little wine church of Chavot alone among the vines, the balcony over the valley at Champillon, the 33-metre statue of Pope Urban II above Châtillon, the quiet war memorial of Dormans and the fairy-tale château of the widow Clicquot at Boursault. Two days with one overnight; the driving itself is only ± 1 hr 45.
The Côte des Blancs scenic drive
The loveliest vineyard loop, south of Épernay: narrow lanes through the grand cru Chardonnay villages Cramant (with its giant bottle), Avize and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and the panorama from Mont Aimé over the whole Côte. The slowest, most scenic drive. Half a day to a full day.
The Côte des Bar scenic drive
The quiet, green south in the Aube: the medieval half-timbered town of Troyes, the Pinot Noir hills of Les Riceys (the only village with three AOCs), Essoyes where the painter Renoir lived and the cheese village of Chaource. Gentler and warmer than the north. Plan for a full day.
Which Champagne route suits you?
Choose the icons route from Reims to Épernay: the cathedral, the great houses, the Verzenay lighthouse and the Avenue de Champagne in one drive.
Choose the heritage route: the UNESCO chalk cellars, the basilica of Saint-Remi, Hautvillers and Aÿ, mostly indoors and so good in any weather.
Choose the Vallée de la Marne: a two-day loop west of Épernay along the river, with an overnight on the way.
Choose the Côte des Blancs: the grand cru Chardonnay villages and the panorama of Mont Aimé, the most scenic loop.
Choose the Côte des Bar from Troyes: the Aube, Les Riceys with three AOCs, Renoir's village and the cheese of Chaource.
The five routes side by side
| Route | Start | Distance | Pure driving | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icons route | Reims | 47 km | ± 55 min | The classics in one drive: cathedral, houses and the Avenue de Champagne |
| Heritage route | Reims | ± 38 km | ± 50 min | UNESCO and cellars, good in any weather |
| Vallée de la Marne | Épernay | ± 85 km | ± 1 hr 45 | Two-day loop along the river, with an overnight |
| Côte des Blancs | Cramant | ± 40 km | ± 1 hr 10 | The Chardonnay loop: chalk slopes and the panorama of Mont Aimé |
| Côte des Bar | Troyes | ± 130 km | ± 2 hr 20 | The quiet south: Pinot Noir, Renoir and the cheese of Chaource |
Why Champagne is such good driving country
Champagne is not a village with vineyards around it, but a region the size of a province, with four very different wine districts and two real cities (Reims and Épernay) as anchors. It truly opens up by car, because the finest slopes and villages are scattered and the through roads are quiet departmental roads, not a motorway. Between Reims and the Aube the landscape changes completely: from the chalk cellars and great houses in the north, via the narrow Chardonnay strip of the Côte des Blancs, to the rolling Pinot Noir hills around Troyes, closer to Chablis than to Reims. Five separate routes do those districts more justice than one rushed lap.
Generate your own Champagne loop from your own start
Type your start town (for example Reims) and we build a beautiful two-hour loop over back roads. Adjust everything afterwards: duration, start, vehicle.
Free, with a share link and export to GPX and Google Maps. A place name is enough; no need to share your location.
Frequently asked questions
Which Champagne route suits me?
Want the classics in one drive? Choose the icons route from Reims to Épernay. After history and something that works in the rain? Take the heritage route past the UNESCO cellars. With two days, the Vallée de la Marne is a fine loop along the river. The Côte des Blancs is the Chardonnay loop with the panorama of Mont Aimé; the Côte des Bar is the quiet, green south in the Aube with Les Riceys and Renoir's village.
Do these routes really avoid the motorway?
Yes. All five routes follow through departmental roads (D-roads) and vineyard lanes and avoid the motorway. We measure the routes via a route planner and the leg speeds confirm each time that it is not a motorway.
When is the best time to go?
May to October is loveliest; at harvest (September) the slopes turn colour. The heritage route with its cellars also works in winter and bad weather. Book cellar visits and the Renoir house in Essoyes ahead, and mind Sunday closures.
Are these routes suitable for an ordinary car or convertible?
Yes, all five run on paved roads and are fine by ordinary car, convertible or motorbike. The vineyard lanes of the Côte des Blancs are narrow and slow, the Côte des Bar flowing; the comparison table above shows the character of each route.
Are these routes free?
Yes. Viewing, running a route from your own location, downloading the GPX and sharing are free, with a small Touren.app credit. Plus adds ad-free and offline driving.