Épernay, Champagne capital in Marne, France
Épernay is a town in the Marne département that stretches along the left bank of the river through a gentle valley. The main avenue is lined with 19th-century buildings that sit above expansive chalk cellars.
The area belonged to the archbishops of Reims from the 5th to 10th century before passing to the counts of Champagne. The Hundred Years' War brought heavy destruction, but the town recovered in the 18th century with the rise of wine production.
The name comes from the Roman settlement Sparnacum, and the town evolved into a center of sparkling wine production during the 1800s. Many old mansions serve as company headquarters today, while the cellars below continue their original purpose.
The railway station links the town to Paris, Strasbourg and other major cities in the northeast. Visitors can tour the cellar tunnels at different producers, with guided visits usually offered in French and English.
More than 100 kilometers of chalk passages lie beneath the town, maintaining a constant temperature around 11 degrees Celsius (52 degrees Fahrenheit) and high humidity. These conditions proved perfect for slow bottle aging and have been used since the 18th century.
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