Scenic route? Lots of Reims piccies

[Clewsey]

evening,

I'm treating the car (and wife) to a trip to Reims at the weekend for a) champagne b) do the obligatory stop at the old F1 Pit buildings / grandstands to get some photographs []

I'm currently looking at routes and want to avoid the autoroute to some degree. Can anyone who has done this trip recommend a more scenic route to take? I'll be using the tunnel.

Cheers for any ideas!
Simon

 

[garyw]

Simon I did a route to the Chamapgne houses and Reims a few years back, leaving the tunnel and using only the A and B road [] It was a 6 hour drive, so depends on how much time you want it to take.... by motorway it's only just only 2.5hours... I'd suggest using the Autoroute to North of Arras and then go to the west of the town, head for Thiepval for the wondeful monumnet and Peronne for lunch. From there heading toward Soissons the route to the old circuit is wonderful .. I'll re- visit the Champagne region next year for a weekend trip and this is the route I'd use... garyw

 

[john.newland]

I found a very scenic route to Reims, via a week in Near St Tropez, then drove back through N Italy into Switzerland, stopping in Lucerne, then crossing Switzerland into S Germany to drive through the Black Forest. Next day drive to Reims. On a serious note Verve Cliquot is well worth a look around, they do several levels of tour. The English speaking ones need to be booked a few weeks in advance. Stayed in the Best western in the centre of town. Car park space needs to be booked in advance if I remember right, and is GT3 friendly, but witha fairly narrow steep-ish ramp on entry and exit.

 

[geoff lane]

Gary Put me down for that trip Caroline just loves Champagne !!!!!!! Geoff

 

[Clewsey]

ORIGINAL: garyw Simon I did a route to the Chamapgne houses and Reims a few years back, leaving the tunnel and using only the A and B road [] It was a 6 hour drive, so depends on how much time you want it to take.... by motorway it's only just only 2.5hours... I'd suggest using the Autoroute to North of Arras and then go to the west of the town, head for Thiepval for the wondeful monumnet and Peronne for lunch. From there heading toward Soissons the route to the old circuit is wonderful .. I'll re- visit the Champagne region next year for a weekend trip and this is the route I'd use... garyw

Cheers Gary. I think a mixture of autoroute/A/B will be good as we'll only be there a couple of days. Looking at the map now [] Now finding the champagne houses will be easy as Louise will already have these planned! Will post some piccies when back. Quick question - it'll be the first time I've taken this car onto the chunnel. With the aerokit do you reckon the usual ramp down to the tunnel platform will be ok considering two people / luggage up front. Cheers, Simon

 

[Clewsey]

ORIGINAL: john.newland I found a very scenic route to Reims, via a week in Near St Tropez, then drove back through N Italy into Switzerland, stopping in Lucerne, then crossing Switzerland into S Germany to drive through the Black Forest. Next day drive to Reims. On a serious note Verve Cliquot is well worth a look around, they do several levels of tour. The English speaking ones need to be booked a few weeks in advance. Stayed in the Best western in the centre of town. Car park space needs to be booked in advance if I remember right, and is GT3 friendly, but witha fairly narrow steep-ish ramp on entry and exit.

LOL - very tempted to do the same as I could do with a week off! [] Thanks for the tips. I think we'll be visiting Epernay to visit a couple, the back seats will be down ready to take the load

 

[Andy Rodgett]

We have stayed at both Holiday Inn and Hotel de la Paix Rheims but not in the gt3 so no awareness of parking suitability! Tastings to try include Veuve Cliquot @Rheims,Vilmart @ Rilly la Montagne,Launois, Hatte @ Verzenay, Camille Saves @ Bouzy and either Roger Brun or Goutorbe @ Ay. If you were in Rheims try Bistro Boulangrain for dinner and Grand Cafe for lunchtime moules et frites Andy ps Lunch at Ch Launois is rather special....

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: john.newland I found a very scenic route to Reims,

I even prefer your route John [] Book as a high vehicle and you'll get sent to the wider carriages- as I found out at the weekend they are quite a bit easier. I've never struggled to get down the ramp and heard no issues from those in TurboS, GT3 or GT2, so would say you'll be fine on the front lip.. I've visited quite a few of the Champagne houses, especially the Verve house ( my favourite Champagne) and whilst very good tours, I've had some really nice tastings at the smaller private houses. Going from the Reims circuit across the forest to Epernnay is a superb drive too [] Andy, I'll have to check out some of those suggestions.... We've done cheerful and I've done stunning, stopping here last time and having dinner there[8D] -> [link=http://www.royalchampagne.com/en/hotel]http://www.royalchampagne.com/en/hotel[/link] looking forward to returning...

 

[jonnyp1]

Can i suggest a stop at http://www.champagne.g.tribaut.com/ in Hautvilliers and also a tour at Mercier in Epernay. There is also a champagne tour route around the area, with some nice routes around the area. enjoy Jon

 

[kasspa]

We stayed in Best Western in centre of Reims several years back, it has a secure underground car park. Champagne route drives are quite well posted & some of the smaller Champagne Houses are free[]..... I'm sure we picked up some flyers locally! Try the Martell house, not the brandy & can recommend Barnault in Bouzy: [link=http://www.champagne-barnaut.com/]http://www.champagne-barnaut.com/[/link] It is a small shop front as you drive through the town & their Blanc de Noir was as good as Moet & half the price. Enjoy

 

[Clewsey]

Thanks everybody for the suggestions, much appreciated and seems like a popular venue for us owners [] We are staying at the Chateau de Rilly in Rilly La Montague so near to most attractions. I'm looking forward to putting a few miles onto the car as it's still done under 2k miles since getting it in August! I will promise to post some pictures once I'm back. Cheers, Simon

 

[rob.kellock]

ORIGINAL: kasspa We stayed in Best Western in centre of Reims several years back, it has a secure underground car park. Champagne route drives are quite well posted & some of the smaller Champagne Houses are free[]..... I'm sure we picked up some flyers locally! Try the Martell house, not the brandy & can recommend Barnault in Bouzy: [link=http://www.champagne-barnaut.com/]http://www.champagne-barnaut.com/[/link] It is a small shop front as you drive through the town & their Blanc de Noir was as good as Moet & half the price. Enjoy

We stayed at Best Western in Rheims centre this summer and also enjoyed a tour of the Martell house and caves Underground car park a bit tight, to put it mildly but it was very full. Driving roads around the old circuit would be lovely in a Porsche - we had the kids so had to go in the BMW which was, erm, not the same!

If the light show at the Cathedral is still on it's well worth a viewing.

Finally, if you see this at the toy shop, buy it! I wish I had!!

Have fun - it will be hard not to!

 

[Clewsey]

Liking the toy!

 

[rob.kellock]

It was ace! Still secretly hoping that my Mrs notified Father Christmas...

 

[Clewsey]

Some pictures to follow but thought I'd recreate a flypast all of my own past the pits/grandstand. Had a lovely weekend, car was great and was surprising how many bottles of champagne/wine you can fit into it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-ks1xhUREc&feature=plcp Enjoy

 

[Clewsey]

Here's some pics from the trip: First the champagne!

The hotel

The circuit

 

[garyw]

Looks very nice sat outside the hotel, where was that? We were supposed to stop at the grandstands on the way for Kings and Castles trip earlier in the year but an odd sat-nav error [&:] sent us the wrong way and split the group!! Glad you made it and paid your respects..[] garyw

 

[Clewsey]

ORIGINAL: garyw Looks very nice sat outside the hotel, where was that? We were supposed to stop at the grandstands on the way for Kings and Castles trip earlier in the year but an odd sat-nav error [&:] sent us the wrong way and split the group!! Glad you made it and paid your respects..[] garyw

Shame the satnav did that, it's such an amazing sight to see and always good to watch some old footage afterwards. The hotel was in Rilly la Montagne just on the way to Reims and was a former champagne house going back. It was right in the centre of the village, very nice place, excellent food/service with good parking. Local champagne producers there too which we plan on visiting next year. http://www.lechateauderilly.com Cheers

 

[garyw]

Gutted for those with us on the trip who had never been.[]. I've been a fair few times...[]

2001...!

 

[hamishmoon]

Lived in this region for a while , now once you leave the circuit head over to Epernay on the back roads and take the sign post for Royal champagne and Dizzy, drive down the road and immediately turn around and blast back up the smooth tarmac which was renewed to almost race track smoothness a few years ago and have a pinic at the final parking area two car max, seats and bench table and wonderful view over the worlds best wine growing area IMO.