The Clos de la Rose B&B property is a perfect start and base to visit and tour the Champagne wine route. We are located 5 minutes only from the West end of the Champagne vineyards.
After breakfast, you will be offered to start your visit of the Marne valley from the little village of Saacy towards Epernay. During the day you will see famous places like Charly sur Marne, Chateau Thierry and Hautvillers. Hautvillers is the cradle of Champagne. In the church of the old abbey you will see the tomb of the famous monk Dom Perignon who first discovered the technique of the sparkling wine.

Leaving the Clos de la Rose bed and breakfast to the north via the D68, you will see very quickly the Marne valley and the first vineyards. Continue down the hill, cross the little willage of Saacy and find the bridge to cross the river. Once on the other bank of the Marne turn right and head east. On your right hand, the river is never far away. On your left there are vineyards and again vineyards... The old and charming village of Charly sur Marne is only 15 minutes from our B&B.

Hautvillers is one of the most charming villages in the champagne area. Close to Epernay (5 kilometres only) Hautvillers had a very special destiny. In the old abbey of the village, a monk named Dom Perignon first discovered how to produce a sparkling wine and created the first Champagne wine.

Do not forget to visit the church of the former abbey of Hautvillers. There you will see the grave of Dom Perignon, the monk who discovered first how to make Champagne. If by any chance you are there by mid-day, you may consider having lunch at the restaurant de l'Abbaye just on the opposite of the abbey. It is a good place well known in the area for its cuisine. Especially when weather permits, it is very pleasant to eat out on the terrace.

Suggestions for the afternoon

After Hautvillers, drive downhill to Epernay, capital city of the champagne wine area. Epernay, it is 28000 inhabitants, 30000 hectares of vineyards and millions of bottles aging in some 110 kilometres of cellars excavated inside the chalky rocks! Take some time to visit one of those famous and prestigious champagne houses (Mercier, Moet et Chandon, De Castellane). Most of them are situated under the avenue de Champagne and the nearby streets. Attention, take a warm sweater with you since the temperature inside the cellars is rather low even during the hot summer days!

Some of the most spectacular cellars

Champagne Mercier, 70 avenue de Champagne, Epernay. Tel 0326512222
Mid-March to end of November, open every day from 09:30 to 11:30 and 14:00 to 16:30 In Winter, closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as well as from mid-December to beginning of January. Entry fee for the visit (includes tasting), 6 EUR / person.
House founded in 1858 with beautifully decorated cellars. 18 kilometres of galleries you will visit partially aboard a little electric train.

Champagne Moet et Chandon, 18 avenue de Champagne, Epernay. Tel 0326512020
Open 7 days, from March to mid-November. Closed on weekends and bank holidays during the Winter. Fee for the visit: 8 - 21 EUR depending on the type of tasting you chose. Some 28 kilometres of galleries where 90 millions of bottles are aging! Moet et Chandon was founded in 1743. It is the biggest wine house in Champagne. The visit last approx. 1 hour (on foot).

Champagne De Castellane, 57 route de Verdun, Epernay. Tel. 0326511911
Every day from mid-March to end of December, from 10:00 to 12:00 and again from 14:00 to 18:00. You can visit the museum and the cellar for 6,50 EUR. House founded in 1895, remarquable for the famous tower (66 metres high) where from you will discover a wide panorama over Epernay and the vineyards. How the work was conducted in the vineyards as well as the different stages of champagne making are presented in the museum.

In the evening

According to the available time, you might come back to the Clos de la Rose bed and breakfast by the smaller roads via Montmirail or join the A4 motorway and be back within 1 hour. Take exit 19 towards La Ferté sous Jouarre. To visit the area from Epernay to Reims and the city of Reims, another day is necessary...