5km north of Epernay is the place where legend has it, the story of Champagne bubbles began – Hautvillers.
Dom Perignon was a French Benedictine monk who served at the Abbey of Hautvillers. He worked in the Abbey cellars for almost 50 years and much of his time was spent improving the methods for the maturation of wines, the blending of different grapes, corking the bottles and the pruning of vines to improve the grape quality. Apparently he actually spent much of his time trying to rid the wine of bubbles! He is though, the person we associate most with the invention of Champagne, and the legend that he cried “Brothers, come quick, I am tasting the stars” has stuck, in no small part thanks to brilliant French marketing.
There’s no train station in Hautvillers but you can hire a bike (including electric bike) from Epernay Tourist Office, the ride takes around 30 minutes: www.tourisme-hautvillers.com
Tasting the Stars in Hautvillers
Information
For train information see the OuiSNCF website where you can book tickets to Champagne. For travel direct in Champagne on the local trains, buying tickets at the station is fine.
For more information on the region and its attractions see
Hautvillers Champagne Prayer:
Give me health for a long time,
Work, not too often,
Love, from time to time,
But Champagne all the time!