About Champagne-Ardenne
The Champagne-Ardenne region (population 1.34 million), which is often called simply Champagne, contains the departments of Ardennes (08), Aube (10), Marne (51) and Haute-Marne (52). The region is celebrated for the sparkling wine after which it's named, and the production of champagne dominates most aspects of life in the region. Its main towns include Charleville-Mézières, Épernay, Reims, and Troyes (10), the regional capital. Reims is home to the Grandes Marques of champagne, such as Veuve Cliquot and Charles Heidsieck, although Epernay is the centre of champagne production. Reims cathedral is one of the most beautiful in France as well as historically the most important, being where the country's kings were crowned.
The region is highly cultivated and, although not one of France's most attractive areas, it's noted for its rolling landscape, immense forests (Verzy forest contains beech trees that are over 1,000 years old), deep gorges and vast rivers. Champagne-Ardenne also contains one of Europe's largest artificial lakes, the Lac du Der-Chantecoq near Saint Dizier. Ardennes (which shares a border with Belgium) is the region's most picturesque department and its rolling, wooded landscape is dotted with ramparts, fortified castles and farmhouses. The Champagne-Ardenne region isn't popular with foreign homebuyers, despite property being relatively inexpensive, particularly in Ardennes. However, it becomes more expensive the nearer you get to Brussels in the north and Paris in the west (the western Aube is the most expensive area). The area has good road connections and is served by the A4 and A26 motorways.
©Text by David Hampshire, from Survival Books' Buying a Home in France