Product Description
Experience the art de vivre in France's celebrated Champagne region, the land of the most fabled wines, prestigious vineyards, family-run cellars, Gothic grandeur, a rich unrivaled heritage, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can discover the champagne wines by following the tourist route of the champagne wine region; visit the lighthouse Phare de Verzenay, watching over an ocean of vineyards and housing the Wine museum; stroll around the "wealthiest avenue of the world" in Epernay, where you'll find the most prestigious champagne houses; or taste a glass of champagne at the Perching Bar, set six meters up in the trees! Visit Reims and its famous cathedral, the Palais de Tau, the Saint Rémi Basilica; go for a hike at the Parc Naturel Régional de la Montagne de Reims; and visit Fossier, the famous biscuit factory!
At the gates of Reims, in the heart of the Champagne vineyards, Le Chateau de Rilly is an exceptional place that cultivates a certain art of living well and welcomes you to an old Champagne house dating back to the late eighteenth century. Ideally located between Reims and Epernay, in the heart of the Champagne vineyards, Chateau de Rilly invites you to enter a magical place where the magic of yesteryear is combined with modern comfort. You'll be enchanted by the chateau's charm, authenticity and exceptional natural setting overlooking the rolling vineyards, making it the ideal atmosphere in which to enjoy tranquility, comfort and refinement. This former champagne house has retained its character, story and soul from its beginnings in the 18th century, and immerses you in old-world refinement and contemporary comfort. Enjoy a tranquil stroll through the French garden, and view the water basin, boxwood wreaths and grassy flower beds.
The best way to experience the Champagne region of France is to tour the wineries and taste – what else? – the champagne! Your full-day small-group wine tours will take you from the countryside to the cities of Epernay and Reims, two of the most prominent places where champagne is produced – in fact, Epernay is internationally known as the "Capital of Champagne!" Epernay's stunning main street showcases opulent mansions housing the most distinguished champagne houses, and underground in nearly 70 miles of subterranean cellars there are more than 200 million bottles of champagne being aged! Reims shares the honor of being one of the most important centers of champagne production with Epernay, but it also boasts Gothic grandeur and Roman remains, along with several Michelin-starred restaurants.
Epernay is home to many illustrious champagne houses, several of which you'll visit on your wine tours, including Moet & Chandon. Founded in 1743, it became the first international brand in the world. Next you'll visit the Taittinger winery in Reims, the vines of which cover 288 hectares over 34 vineyards, and which include some of the appellation's finest. Your full-day small-group Reims scenic champagne tour opens your eyes to the beautiful sights of the city, including the Grandes Maisons de Champagne, and excites your taste buds with champagne tastings (seven total!) at the most famous champagne houses, such as Veuve Clicquot,
Mumm and Pommery. Before the end of the day, you'll also enjoy a guided tour of Reims Cathedral where French kings were once crowned, and which is a member of the distinguished triad of "High Gothic" or "Classical" French cathedrals built in the 13th century. In Epernay, you'll go on a guided tour of the Abbey of Saint-Pierre of Hautvillers, founded in 650, which is where Dom Perignon created his famous champagne; you can pay your respects to the "Father of Champagne" at his tomb in the attached Church of St. Sindulphe. A visit to Avenue de Champagne, which some people say is a more expensive street than even the Champs-Elysees in Paris because of all the bottled bubbly in the cellars, in addition to seven tastings, round out your tour!
Your trip for two includes:
• 6 days/5 nights accommodation at Le Chateau De Rilly in a Traditional Room
• Daily breakfast
• Full-day small group Reims & Epernay, Moet & Chandon and Taittinger tour
• Full-day small group Reims Scenic Tour
• Full-day small group Epernay Picturesque Tour
• All room-related taxes (including VAT)
• Free concierge reservation service
