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Champagne-Ardenne Province of France

History of Champagne-Ardenne

Champagne-Ardenne is a historic province in north eastern France. The name derives from the Latin campania, meaning "plain."

The county of Champagne was incorporated into France in 1314.

Champagne now comprises the departments of Ardennes, Marne, Aube, and Haute-Marne and parts of Aisne, Seine-et-Marne, Yonne, and Meuse, with the principal town being Troyes, the medieval capital of Champagne.

Grapes grown on the lower slopes of the Falaise are made into the famous sparkling wine, which is matured within the miles of cellars carved out of the chalk under Reims and Epernay.

Champagne is of course "the king of wines". Benedictine monk Dom Pérignon is credited with discovering the process of double fermentation in the 17th century, which puts the fizz into champagne.

Over the centuries, 25 kings of France chose to be crowned in the Gothic cathedral in Reims and the guests were naturally served champagne.  Word spread in all languages that champagne was most definitely the drink to celebrate special occasions and toast good news.

Its strategic location has made it a battleground whenever France has been invaded from the east.

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