FROM TOP: PETER RICHARDSON/GETTY IMAGES; MAURICE ROUGEMONT; JOHN CAREY/GETTY IMAGES; COURTESY MAISON FOSSIER MAISON COURTESY IMAGES; CAREY/GETTY JOHN ROUGEMONT; MAURICE IMAGES; RICHARDSON/GETTY PETER TOP: FROM 6 1 9/12/12 6:21 AM : 3 Le Parc 2 , with 165 is famous is : 6 Le Le Château Les 0 , whose guides do 2 1 0 Maison Fossier Maison 2 Hôtel de la Paix , (by reservation) provide an provide reservation) (by 2 1 , the restaurant within Le Château La Vigne du Roy r La Table Anna serves such French e b G.H. Mumm G.H. m Founded1756,in , the oldest registered house , the oldest registered e Having earned two Michelin stars, for all of the places mentionedfor all in of this the places story at AA.com/americanway at t Find contact information p in is a regal, century-old manse set amid e The list of Champagne houses in Reims proper EAT: SHOP: SHOP: FROM TOP: a stained-glass rose window in Notre- less service in a majestic dining room. The vast biscuits from Maison Fossier Les Crayères Les indulgent, indulgent, Dame Cathedral of Reims; araignee et brocolis at Le Château Les Crayères; ’s chalk cellar; rose     the the shops and restaurants of the Drouet Place Les Crayères, pairs refined French fare with flaw- the cathedralthe andhoney-laced— gingerbread also favorites as foie gras, escargot and a succulent for thedelicatefor rosebiscuits Reimsthata spe-are modern, moderately priced rooms just steps from from steps just rooms priced moderately modern, make scrumptious souvenirs. scrumptious make sonal dishes as delicate turbot with slices of arti- wine list provides perfect pairings for such sea- welcoming atmosphere. a glass of Champagne (what else?) as they’re choke and eggplant. Less of a splurge but equally escorted to the 20 elegant rooms and suites. suites. and rooms elegant 20 the to escorted cialty. Its shortbread cookies — with an outline of d’Erlon pedestrian street. duck breast with gingerbread crumbles in a warm, warm, a in crumbles gingerbread with breast duck Another option is the Ruinart A Relais & Châteaux property, S Outside of Reims, the Route Touristique du Champagne Champagne du Touristique Route the Reims, of Outside f d DRINK: STAY: by by securing one of the limited number of spots on the ist artist Marc Chagall) and hundreds of statues. Look on on Look statues. of hundreds and Chagall) Marc artist ist informative overview of the winemaking process — plus tinger, Pommery. For a more intimate introduction, start introduction, For a Pommery. more intimate tinger, tour at the 2,000-year-old chalk caves, where five miles of cellars the driving for you and provide insider access to estates the north portal for the Smiling Angel, an icon of the city. friendly tours at reads like a New Year’s Eve roll call: , Tait- provide the ideal nursery for Ruinart’s prestige cuvées. The stained-glass windows (including some by famed modern- famed by some (including windows stained-glass sider a day tour with C r a y è r e s visitors annually make the pilgrimage to see the soaring were crowned over eight centuries. These days, a million across the region. 17 acres of manicured gardens. Guests are greeted with one or two glassestwooneor bubblytoastof knowledge.to yournew 300-mile stretch. Rent a car and follow the signs, or con- (founded in 1729). Visitors descend nearly 12 stories to the along stops 80 through meanders Trail) (Champagne p Notre- . 2 3 Museum of Museum of 0 (adjacent to - 1 0 0 1 , where 29 French kings 2 1 0 HY SETTLE FOR A CHAM- pagne cruise on the Seine wine sparkling famous most when you can sip the world’s 2 W A _ recounts the major developments V V Tourism Office of Reims of Office Tourism M C 0 Destroyed in World War I, Reims was rebuilt _ DO: DameCathedral Reimsof houses, making this month an ideal, laid-back time the Surrender the in situ? A mere 45-minute TGV train ride from Paris’ mere45-minuteA situ? in train ride fromTGV Paris’ in town and the tantalizing tastes in your glass. the historic heart of the Champagne region. This to take in the fallthecolorstakein vineyards, the to in sightsthe topdestination forhistory and architecture buffs thetrain station) rents self-guided audio tours to Reims’ numerous historic sites. The Eisenhower’s acceptance of the German acceptance army’s Eisenhower’s unconditional surrender in that very room. Reims’ year’s harvest year’s has already ended for the area’s Gare Gare de l’Est takes you station to Reims, France, at the height of the Art Deco era and remains a alike. The 100,000 and seasonal workers 300 Champagne of World War II — particularly General Dwight crown jewel, however, is the 801-year-old AA.COM/AMERICANWAY W - p

o t s t i Hop the P foray into into foray French city. French - P FAST TRAINFAST FROM PARIS this sparkling A A for a fascinating a fascinating for A WEEKEND IN: A WEEKEND Reims, France OCTOBER 01,2012 32

BRIEF: GO 10.01 Brief_Go_Reims France.indd 32