Champagne Region from Paris: Reims, Épernay & Cellar Tours

The Champagne region — home to the world's most celebrated sparkling wine — begins just 45 minutes east of Paris by TGV. Reims and Épernay are the twin capitals of Champagne, and both offer unforgettable cellar tours beneath the chalky streets where millions of bottles age in the dark.

Reims (45 minutes by TGV)

Reims's Gothic cathedral (where French kings were crowned for 1,000 years) is extraordinary — its restored 13th-century facade, 139 statues, and the stunning Chagall windows in the east end make it one of France's great buildings. Trains from Paris Est every 30 minutes.

The great Champagne houses have their cellars in Reims: Taittinger (in former Gallo-Roman chalk quarries — among Europe's most atmospheric cellars), Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart (the oldest, founded 1729). All offer guided cellar tours ending with a tasting. Book ahead in summer.

Épernay (1h15m from Paris)

The self-proclaimed "world capital of Champagne" — the Avenue de Champagne is lined with the palaces of Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët, Pol Roger and Mercier. The Moët & Chandon cellars tour (€30-60) ends with a glass of Dom Pérignon in barrel-lined vaults.