The Good Life France Magazine May/June 2015 | Page 51

Not to be missed if you’re in Champagne

Not far from Les Riceys (see previous feature), this year’s location for the Champagne en fete festival, is lovely Essoyes.

In 1880, Pierre-Auguste Renoir met Aline Victorine Charigot in Paris. She was a pretty young girl from the town of Essoyes in Champagne. She became his model and then his wife and they had three sons, Pierre, Jean and Claude. Each summer, the family took off for Essoyes, a little bit of Paradise on the borders of Burgundy and Champagne. Renoir came to fall in love with the village and eventually decided to stay there for ever.

In the lovely town, you can see Renoir's home, his atelier where he painted, follow in his footsteps around the town and visit the Renoir Visirors Centre to discover all about the artist who delighted in joie de vivre. From June 1 to August 31 2015 a special exhibition will pair 10 of Renoir's works of art with 10 Champagnes, put together by tasting experts, an innovative and interesting way to view the artists paintings... and of course to enjoy a glass of Champagne!

We've got ten pairs of tickets for this excellent exhibition at the Renoir Centre, Essoyes to give away - email: [email protected] if you would like us to send you tickets (first come first served!)...

Discover more about the Renoir Visitor centre and exhibition at: www.renoir-essoyes.com