Champagne is a region located in northeastern France, world-renowned for producing the sparkling wine that bears its name. If you want to travel around Champagne by train, you don’t reach many tourist attractions in rural area, but trains allows you to convenient and fast travel between main towns and cities in the region. Most of the tourists rent a car to explore the Champagne.
The best starting point for train trips is Reims. The city has a very good train connections with main tourist destinations in the region. Reims is served by two main railway stations: Gare de Reims in the city centre, the hub for regional transport, and the new Gare de Champagne-Ardenne TGV 5 kilometres (3 miles) southwest of the city with high-speed rail connections to Paris, Metz, Nancy and Strasbourg. There are shuttle trains between stations.
Troyes is connected with Paris by TGV trains.
There are no direct regional trains between Reims and Troyes. Transfer in Châlons-en-Champagne is needed.
Champagne by train – useful websites
TER Grand Est – regional trains in the region
Train travel in France – a comprehensive guide
Alsace by train
Lorraine by train
Map of the train connections in Grand Est Region
Champagne by train – what to see
Reims – the largest city in the Champagne. Most famous tourist attraction is the Notre-Dame Cathedral with its rich-decorated interior. For centuries, the coronations of French kings took place here. Adjacent to the cathedral is situated the Palais du Tau, a former archbishop’s palace that now houses a museum displaying artifacts related to the cathedral and the French monarchy’s coronation ceremonies. Another interesting landmark in Reims is the Saint-Remi Abbey or Basilica – one of the oldest and largest churches in France. An ancient Roman triumphal arch Gate de Mars is also worth see. The Automobile Museum Reims-Champagne displays a collection of automobiles dating from 1903 to the present day. You can visit also the Museum of Fine Arts. Reims is famous for local pink biscuits, which can be found in almost every shop or bakery.
Troyes – the historic capital of the Champagne region is renowned for its beautiful Old Town. Tourists can admire well-preseverd preserved half-timbered houses in many places of the city centre. The most interesting monument in Troyes is the Gothic Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, founded in 1208. There are two interesting museums: The Musée Saint-Loup (museum of archeology and fine arts) and Museum of Modern Art.
Épernay – a charming town situated in the southern part of the region It is home to some of the most famous champagne houses such as Moët & Chandon, Pol Roger, Lafond, and Perrier-Jouët. Along the main street called L’Avenue du Champagne, there are many beautiful villas.
Châlons-en-Champagne – an interesting city known for its monuments, especially Romanesque Saint Etienne’s Cathedral from 12th century, Notre-Dame-en-Vaux collegiate church and Saint-Alpin, likely the oldest church in the city (about 1170). The city has a nice City Hall. Tourists can also visit three museums: Musée du Cloître de Notre-Dame-en-Vaux, which displays a collection of Romanesque sculptures and columns, the Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’Archéologie de Châlons-en-Champagne and Musée Gari dedicated to decorative arts.
Langres – a walled small hilltop town with well-preserved fortifications surrounded by beautiful countryside. You can stroll through a beautiful stone-built city centre, visit Cathédrale Saint-Mamme and modern Musée d’Art et d’Histoire where you can learn about history of the town.
Sedan – a town famous for one of the largest fortified castles in Europe.
Charleville-Mézières is the capital of the Ardennes department and birthplace of the poet Rimbaud. It has well-preserved Old Town and Rimbaud Museum established in the old water mill.
