The capital of France's Marne department has 11th-century churches, a Gothic cathedral, and waterways running through its medieval center. A key wine trade hub near Reims.
In northeastern France's Grand Est region, Châlons-en-Champagne welcomes visitors with its Gothic churches and Renaissance buildings along calm waterways. You can climb the Notre-Dame-en-Vaux bell tower to see its 56-bell carillon, take a boat ride through the city's canals, or taste champagne in the underground Joseph Perrier cellars. Walk through three interconnected gardens spanning 11 hectares, watch circus performances at the historic Le Cirque, or time your visit for one of the city's annual festivals.
Religious Architecture
The 12th-century Notre-Dame-en-Vaux church displays both Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. Its 56-bell carillon is one of Europe's largest, and the 1525 stained glass windows create colorful light patterns throughout the interior. Next door, the Museum du Cloître houses the church's medieval cloister ruins, with architectural elements unlike any other in Europe. At Saint-Étienne Cathedral, you'll find 13th-century stained glass windows and an ornate main altar.
Gardens and Waterways
Three distinct gardens create green spaces throughout the city. The Petit Jard includes an arboretum and the historic Château du Marché. In the Grand Jard, you'll walk under chestnut and linden trees along formal French-style paths. The Jard Anglais connects to both gardens via walkways and looks out toward Saint-Étienne Cathedral. Boat tours along the Mau and Nau rivers let you see these gardens from the water as you float through the city center.
Cultural Life and Festivals
Le Cirque, built in 1899, now houses the Centre National des Arts du Cirque (CNAC), where circus performers train. Throughout the year, several festivals animate the city streets. The Festival Furies brings street performances to public spaces. Musicians perform for five weeks during the Festival des Musiques d'Ici et d'Ailleurs. In October, the War on Screen festival shows films about historical and contemporary conflicts.
Underground Champagne Cellars
Three kilometers of chalk quarry tunnels run beneath the city at the Joseph Perrier champagne house. These underground galleries date back to the Gallo-Roman period and maintain ideal conditions for aging champagne. You can tour these cellars - the only ones open to visitors in Châlons-en-Champagne - to learn about champagne production methods and the wine house's story.
Getting Around
You can reach Châlons-en-Champagne from Paris Gare de l'Est in about one hour by TGV high-speed train. The city lies at the intersection of two major motorways: the A4 (Paris-Strasbourg) and A26 (Lille-Lyon). While Châlons Vatry Airport mainly handles cargo operations, processing around 16,000 tons of freight annually.
