Champagne

Stayed with our new friends in a beautiful champagne village outside of Reims.

Visited Taittinger in Reims, amazing chalk cellars, like the inside of a pyramid. Avenue des Champagne in Epernay lined up the big brands in their palatial head offices and traditonal cellars.

Visited a few of the smaller grower champagne houses. Their wares are much more affordable (ie half), genuine, and they are generous with their time. We received some great advice- if you get to champagne see one of the big brand cellars, then head to the villages to see what it is really all about.

We went outside of the square a little and visited Caverne du Dragon (cave of the dragon). An ex subterranean limestone quarry was used and renovated by the French and the Germans during WW1 as an army base and transport tunnel.

It was amazing to learn about just how long it takes to clean up the aftermath of war- they are still finding live shells and grenades this day.

Cellars @ Taittinger/ a lonely poppy in the carpark at the war museum/ Rach on top of the 'ladies way' at Caverne du Dragon