The coronation cathedral of French kings, UNESCO-listed chalk cellars stacked with millions of bottles, and a bike ride straight through the Coteaux de Champagne vineyards — this is the trip where the "one splurge meal" becomes one splurge tasting instead.
Reims Cathedral is where 25 French kings were crowned — a Gothic masterpiece on the same UNESCO World Heritage list as the "Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars" that spread out beneath both towns. Reims alone has more Champagne houses than any other town in the region (Taittinger, Pommery, Veuve Clicquot, Mumm all have cellar doors here), while Épernay's Avenue de Champagne — sometimes called the "richest avenue in the world" for the wealth buried in its 110 km of chalk cellars beneath it — is where Moët & Chandon and Mercier sit side by side. Between the two towns, marked cycling routes cut straight through the Coteaux de Champagne vineyards, one of the most scenic stretches of farmland anywhere near Paris.
Round trip is roughly 340 km — well within range on a full charge from Meudon, with no charging stops needed either direction (verified via ViaMichelin/road-distance calculators for Meudon-la-Forêt–Reims and Reims–Épernay).
Drive up via the A4 (tolls apply — budget a few euros, or take the slower toll-free route via the N51/N44 if you don't mind an extra 20–30 minutes). First stop: Reims Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame) — nave entry is free, and it's worth the visit alone for the west facade's carved angels and the Chagall stained glass in the axial chapel. Climb the towers for panoramic views over the city and the vineyards beyond (€10, includes access to the roof gallery near the famous gargoyles; English audio guide +€5).
Afternoon: pick one Champagne house cellar tour in Reims. Taittinger is the standout — the cellars sit 18 metres underground in Gallo-Roman chalk quarries and medieval abbey crypts, also UNESCO-listed, with tours + a 2-glass tasting running roughly €40–90 depending on the cuvées poured (cheaper options exist around €27 for a shorter visit + single glass). Book ahead online; weekend slots fill up.
Morning: drive down to Épernay (or better, cycle a stretch of the marked "Reims to Épernay via the Champagne wine route" cyclotourism route through the Montagne de Reims vineyards before driving the rest — see Bike Notes below). In Épernay, walk the Avenue de Champagne, lined with grand maisons de champagne. Tour Moët & Chandon — 28 km of underground tunnels, UNESCO-listed, tours from about €48 for a guided visit + tasting (premium vintage-pairing experiences run up to ~€235; book well ahead for weekends).
Grab the regional treat to go: biscuits roses de Reims from Maison Fossier (founded 1756) — a simple sachet runs roughly €4.70–5.90 for 250g, or a decorative tin from ~€17–20 if you want a gift-worthy souvenir.
Head home via the A4 by mid-afternoon — same ~144 km, ~1h40–2h back to Meudon-la-Forêt.
The Montagne de Reims and Coteaux de Champagne — part of the UNESCO "Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars" site — have marked cyclotourism routes running between Reims and Épernay through the vine rows, well documented by Épernay Tourisme's "circuits cyclotouristiques" and by regional cycling guides (randovelo.fr's "Reims à Épernay à vélo sur la route des vins de Champagne" is a good reference route). Terrain is gently rolling chalk hillside — nothing technical, just constant vineyard views. Bike loaded inside per the Car Camping & Bike Guide: ride a loop out of Reims or Épernay in the morning before the day's cellar tour, or do the whole Reims–Épernay link by bike one way and let the car (and your legs) recover on the drive back.
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tolls (A4 return, approx.) | ≈ €15–20 |
| Charging | €0 (round trip within a single charge) |
| Lodging (free aire, or paid fallback ~€20–25/night) | €0–25 |
| Reims Cathedral tower + audio guide | ≈ €15 |
| Champagne cellar tour + tasting (splurge, pick one house) | €40–90 |
| Biscuits roses de Reims (souvenir) | ≈ €5–20 |
| Food (mostly self-cooked) | ≈ €20–25 |
| Total | €110–160 |