From vineyards to cellars : discover the wine of kings!

Aube’s vineyards gave birth to a rare and sparkling wine - champagne ! this divine nectar is produced in the côte des bar known as the “horn of plenty” in the south of the county, on the borders of champagne and burgundy, only one and a half hours from p

Troyes a medieval jewel  In the old city you are in the “champagne cork”. The wealthy, commercial area was in the lower part of the city, where the Champagne Trade Fairs took place. The upper part of the city  was surrounded by water and overlooked by the Cathedral of Saint-Pierre and Saint Paul. Get lost in the maze of restored streets and alleys many of which are pedestrian, and admire this enclave of half-timbered houses; half-timbering,  exposed beams engraved with watchword, posts decorated with satirical sculptures, turrets. Each house is different, demonstrating the genius and creativeness of the builders of  the Middle Ages. Take a break in one of the numerous cafés and restaurants littered throughout the streets.  Shoppers’ delight :  Troyes is the biggest factory outlet centre in Europe where top brands offer very low prices on the previous season’s collections. Three exceptional factory outlets await your visit!

Les riceys a legendary taste  This 870 hectare village, the most important in Champagne enjoys cultivating exceptional wines.  Incorporating three small market towns of remarkable architecture, this is the only village in the Champagne region to have 3 (AOCs)  appellations. It owes its reputation to the famous “Rosé des Riceys”, a rare wine and Louis XIV’s favourite which very few people have had the opportunity to taste; a delicate bouquet  of wild flowers, violet and hazelnuts. Even in a good year, production does not exceed 80 000 bottles. You will have the privilege of savouring  this little known wine on 20 winegrowers’ properties linked to the appellation.  Don't Miss:  • Art and History Tour including a visit of St  Pierre Es Liens de Ricey Bas’ church.Information available from the Tourist Office.  Tel: 33 3 25 29 15 38  • Château de Ricey Bas (XVIth century): a large  charming park with its green vegetation, woods  and majestic alleys of 180 bi-centenary plane trees

From bar-sur-seine to mussy-sur-seine a sacred route a sacred ro  Welcome to the Valley of the Seine. Bar-sur-Seine has restored and maintained its beautiful half-timbered houses from its prosperous period of the XVIth and XVIIth centuries. This market town is one of the entry points to the Côte des Bar and the Champagne Tourist Route which leads you to Mussy on the borders of Aube. Beyond its medieval looks, this little city hides some of  Aube’s richest heritage. You are strongly advised to wander from church to church along the route before taking advantage of the  hospitality of the winegrowers.  Don't Miss :  • The Knights Commanderie in Avalleur, 3 km from Bar-sur-Seine.  • Polisy Church (XIIth century), Buxeuil Church (XIIth, XIIIth and XIVth century), Polisot Church (XVIth century).  • The villages of Gyé-sur-Seine and Neuville-sur-Seine.

From celles-sur-ource to essoyes renoir’s adopted home  The valley of the Ource’s countryside criss-crossed with rivers, forests and sunny hillsides,  offers some of the most beautiful panoramas of the Côte des Bar. The area seduced Pierre Auguste Renoir, inspiring a variety of paintings,  making him adopt Essoyes as his home. Celles-sur-Ource is proud not only of having the largest percentage of “harvest-producers” of the whole  of the Champagne region but also of having smaller, more authentic villages that punctuate this area and allow you to meet numerous wineproducers.  Places to visit :  The Renoir Foundation invites you to find  out more about the artist’s life as well as to  visit his workshop. Open everyday from  Easter to All Saints’ Day from 14.30 - 18.30  and by appointment only at other times on  0033 3 25 29 64 64.  • “La Maison de la Vigne”, Vine House evokes  the life of Aube’s winegrowers and the 1911  revolt. Open everyday from Easter to All  Saints’ Day from 14.30 - 18.30 and by appointment  at other times on + 33 (0)3 25 29 64 64.

From bligny to clairvaux the soul of the cisterciens  This is where it all began. Amongst these vine-clad hills and dense forests St Bernard decided  to found Clairvaux Abbey. Assisted by eleven companions he constructed a building that laid out the principles of the Cistercian style of architecture characterised by its vast emptiness,  sobriety and lack of any decoration. A few steps away, Bayel, home of Champagne’s Royal Crystal Factory,opens its doors into the kingdom of  glass engravers and glassblowers,masters in these ancestral arts. After the beauty of stone and the purity of crystal, savour the sparkling magic of the divine nectar.  Places to visit :  - Clairvaux a fascinating abbey  This was an ideal location at the crossroads of Champagne, Burgundy and Lorraine, the Kingdom of France and the Empire. Saint Bernard was able to live completely self-sufficiently, thanks to the nearby water and dense forest that produced enough energy and raw materials. Founder of many monasteries, Clairvaux is the fruit of Saint Bernard’s convictions and deep faith. Saint Bernard became a major figure of the western world. The monks developed the region, built limekilns, forges, winepresses, cellars and mills, planted vines from Hungary, which a few centuries later produced the wines of Champagne.  - Bayel synonymous with crystal  Not far from Clairvaux, Bayel’s village has an international reputation since 1666, thanks to the Royal Crystal Factory of Champagne, created by a Venetian master from Murano. Glass-engravers and blowers have since continued these  sophisticated, traditional techniques. Guided and narrated tours of the workshops take place from Monday to Friday, at 9.30 and 11.00 (except during French national holidays and weekends). For further information contact the Bayel, Royal Crystal Factory shop on + 33 (0)3 25 92 42 68.  - Enchanting Nigloland  Nigloland entertains young and old with its variety of attractions including France’s first suspended roller coaster and a romantic Louisiana style cruise. Located in the middle of a park of one hundred year-old trees, in Dolancourt. Open from April to November.  For further information call + 33 (0)3 25 27 94 52.

From bar-sur-aube to colombé-le-sec from history to legends  Nestled at the bottom of the Saint Germaine Hillside, with stunning views, Bar-sur-Aube  maintains its medieval appearance. One of the big Champagne Trade Fairs used to take place here and people would come across Europe.  The Wine Fair still takes place every year, taking you back in time. Stop a while in Colombé-le-Sec where you will find the spirit of Clairvaux. A few kilometres away you will see in the distance the famous, monumental Cross of Lorraine which dominates the countryside.  Don't Miss :  - Bar sur Aube  The River Aube runs through the city, coiled around its bell tower, which opens out at the bottom of the Côte des Bar onto the Saint Germaine Hills, patron of the town. In the Celtic  times, this strategic site sheltered an “oppidum” and its ditches and ruins can still be visited today. Bar-sur-Aube has preserved numerous buildings from its medieval “golden age”, when the city was famous in Europe for its Trade fairs. In the XIIth century the Saint Pierre Church and its wooden gallery, the Halloy, was used by traders during the fairs.  - Colombé le sec  This small village took its name from “colombes” (doves) because of the number of dovecotes found there. The visit is worth the detour to see the strange, circular, outdoors,washhouse.