Champagne - a gravel adventure to be enjoyed with NO moderation!

Champagne, land of bubbles and cathedrals, and now known for its gravel trails thanks to the Tour de France’s visit on 7th July 2024. An emblematic region par excellence with its vineyards, famous champagne houses and picturesque white chalk trails. You’ll find it has everything you need for a micro-adventure just a stone’s throw from Paris. And that a bike is a great way to visit some of the many champagne producers, big and small, of the area, as well as helping you work up an appetite for all the local delicacies too. Whether you choose to sample some of the world renowned cuvees or search out a tiny local producer, just like the beverage, the Champagne region is best sampled and savoured slowly, so that you don’t miss the beautiful landscapes and chateaux of the area. And cheers!

The Marne: the heart of Champagne

Why the Marne for your next gravel adventure?

A popular place for cycling, this part of the Champagne region has everything for an escape from the hustle and bustle of Paris for a weekend, or two.

Between Reims and Épernay, you’ll find the Montagne de Reims Natural Regional Park, and further south the Marne and Surmelin valleys, not forgetting the Saint Gond Marshes. Plenty to explore and admire in this UNESCO World Heritage Site! It’s also an opportunity to (re)discover the vineyards, cellars and great champagne houses that have made the region so famous the world over.

Think landscapes of vineyards and winding chalky trails with cultural and tasting visits a-plenty - a gravel adventure in the Marne is a top choice!

Some must-sees to visit:

Spending time in Champagne means so much more than testing the fizz! There’s landscapes to explore and history to immerse yourself in. So if you don't want to miss a thing, here’s a few highlights to include in your trip!

• Reims and Notre-Dame Cathedral - a true masterpiece of Gothic art, this cathedral is also an eminently prestigious historical site, having seen numerous coronations here. Step back in time through its heavy wooden door and lose yourself in this incredible space. 

• Épernay - possibly the most famous of all Champagne villages, and home of the Avenue de Champagne and prestigious houses including Moët & Chandon and Perrier-Jouët. This charming village played an important part in the region's inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage List, and is home to an underground treasure trove of over 200 million bottles!

• The great champagne houses - Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, Pommery, and many others! Make the most of your stay in Champagne by taking a guided tour of these underground cellars, where millions of bottles wait patiently to be enjoyed in France and around the world.

• The Champagne wine route - starting in Reims, this route takes you through the most famous vineyards in Champagne, via picturesque villages such as Verzenay and Verzy. A refreshing and soothing route through the beautiful countryside.

• The Marne valley - from Dormans to Épernay, follow the Marne valley through the wine-growing villages of Châtillon-sur-Marne and Mareuil-sur-Ay. This route runs alongside the river and offers breathtaking views of the  surrounding hillsides. 

• The Montagne de Reims Regional Park - agricultural plains, lush forests and vineyard clad hillsides make this an ideal place to explore on a gravel bike. 

Aube: a hidden treasure trove in Champagne

Why choose the Aube for your next gravel adventure?

The Marne may be at the heart of the Champagne region, but the Aube is its hidden gem. Quieter but just as beautiful, this region offers unspoilt landscapes and chalky white tracks that are ideal for gravel biking. Playing host to the Tour de France in 2024, these immaculate trails are a dream to ride.

Aube is a rural area where nature reigns supreme - from the rolling landscapes of the Pays d’Othe, to the Seine valley and the extensive vineyards. You’ll find the incredibly diverse landscape makes it perfect for cycling, with something new to explore around every corner.

Discover the small towns of the Côte des Bar (Bar-sur-Seine, Les Riceys, Essoyes and Mussy-sur-Seine) built of beautiful Burgundy stone, lose yourself in time at the superb Clairvaux Abbey and rewrite history through one of Vidocq's investigations at the Château de Vaux.

And as if that wasn't enough, the region's gastronomic delights are world class - andouillette de Troyes, AOC Chaource cheese (either savoured on its own or in a mushroom fondue!) local sauerkraut, Aube lamb… It’s hard not to fall in love with Aube, which combines just about everything a cyclist needs on an adventure!

Some top spots not to miss on your gravel route:

• The Chemins Blancs - these white trails, which featured in the Women’s Tour de France in 2022 and the Men’s in 2024, are limestone paths that are a dream to ride on a gravel bike. Bordered by vineyards and quiant villages, they’ll take you through landscapes including the Troyes Plain, the Côte des Bar vineyards, and the forests and valleys of the Pays d'Othe and Armance. Don’t forget to admire the breathtaking views across the Aube valley! 

• Bar-sur-Aube, Colombé-le-Sec and Bergères - be seduced by these tiny wine-growing hamlets that seem to be from another era! In Champagne, anything goes at lunchtime, so be sure to sample some of the local liquid produce!

• The Route des Grands Crus de l’Aube - from Les Riceys, Champagne's largest terroir, to Mussy-sur-Seine, via Neuville-sur-Seine, travel the Côte des Bar along the famous Champagne tourist route. Explore the Cadoles, one of the region's highlights. These 200-year-old dry-stone buildings are a big part of Aube's historic heritage and a tourist attraction in their own right.

• The Forêt d'Orient Regional Nature Park - lakes and forests, this nature park is heaven for nature lovers. 

• Troyes and the Cité du Vitrail - this unique establishment is an unprecedented tribute to the many stained glass windows that adorn all the churches in Aube. Aube has an extremely extensive stained glass heritage and legend has it that it’s home to the largest number of stained glass windows in Europe. So if you're fascinated by these beautiful bits of coloured glass and the stories that go with each of them, go check it out!

Our 5 top tips for planning your gravel adventure in the heart of the Champagne region.

If you want to make the most of your gravel adventure in the Champagne region, preparation is key! From choosing the right kit to planning your route, here are our top tips to ensure your gravel adventure in the heart of the Champagne countryside goes off with a bang!

• Choose the right kit

Kit choice is key for any adventure, especially on a gravel bike. Make sure your bike is in top working order, with good tyres and brakes that can deal with the terrain that you’ll encounter. Its a good idea to visit your local bike shop beforehand to give your bike a service so that it’s in top condition like you!

!f you’d like to ride in the Champagne region but don't have a gravel bike,  we have high end gravel bikes, both traditional and electric, for rent and you can book them here in just a few clicks. 

When it comes to kit for your body, don't forget to take along breathable clothing that’s suitable for the season and the weather you’ll encounter during your gravel adventure. 

• Plan your route

Make sure you check out the points of interest on or near your route that you don’t want to miss, and always have some reference points to keep you en route.

You’ll need a map or GPS to navigate with In the mountains this is especially important, as the trails aren’t always well signposted and you don’t want to find yourself lost. Make sure you check out the points of interest on or near your route that you don’t want to miss, and always have some reference points to keep you en route.

Plan your route by noting the highlights of the Champagne that you don’t want to miss. There’s numerous apps that enable you to plan your route and draw inspiration from suggested itineraries and highlights.

You’ll need a map or GPS computer to navigate with whilst on your trip, to help you avoid getting lost or get back on track if needed! Don’t panic though, sometimes getting lost for a while is part of the adventure!

• Ride safely

Even if it's not mandatory, wearing a helmet is highly recommended for your safety during any gravel adventure. Don't forget it’s important to be seen, so to have lights with you and reflective patches/clothing if you’d like to ride into the evening or night even! Don’t forget a small first-aid kit to deal with any eventuality.  

• Stay hydrated

Staying fuelled and hydrated is crucial on any ride, and unfortunately champagne doesn’t help here. Carry enough water and snacks for your ride, and don’t forget electrolytes to help you rehydrate after your efforts and champagne tastings each day!

• Respect

Bike-packing might be one of the greenest ways to travel, but we still need to take care of our impact on the fragile environments we travel through. Make sure you leave only tyre tracks by taking all your rubbish with you, even banana skins and apple cores, so that the landscape you have enjoyed stays as pristine as you found it. 

Explore Champagne by gravel bike with GravelUp!

By choosing an adventure with GravelUp, you’ll be choosing to join a tailor-made bike trip organised and led by an uber professional team.

Our aim is to ensure that EVERYONE has a great time, from first time riders to the most converted gravel-lers. Whatever your level and experience, join us for a gravel bike trip to one of the top spots in France, or indeed Europe.

We take care of everything during your trip so that you can focus on the important things - exploring, pedalling, relaxing in our carefully chosen accommodations, and making the most of every moment, including delicious meals, local tastings and yoga.

All our trips are led by a qualified and passionate guide, and we have top of the range gravel bikes available for hire.

All that’s left to be done is choose where you’d like to go, we’ll take care of the rest!

→ Find out more about the Champagne destination

→ Get in touch for a tailor made trip.