Champagne-Ardenne region guide - Gites Cottages Villas and vacation homes

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Champagne Ardenne

The Champagne-Ardenne region instantly conjures up images of wonderful food and drink – alcoholic beverages accompanied by smooth pâtés. It’s a food-lovers paradise, and is amongst the most beautiful and natural regions with more than 60% of the land set aside for farming and agriculture. The Ardennes Forest, which is mainly in Belgium and Luxembourg, spreads over into France with its dense tree-filled areas and impressive rock formations, but further into the region there are hills and fields with mile after mile of peaceful rolling countryside. An ideal area to chose for a relaxing holiday in a self catering cottage or gite.

GiteSearch - Glasses of Champaigne in the French region of Champaigne-ArdenneA gite or cottage in Champagne-Ardenne gives you an unparalleled opportunity to enjoy the flavours of the region. Visit the restaurants, or buy food at the market to bring back and prepare on your own. There are wonderful historic houses to visit during your stay, and this spectacular region is also the home of Europe’s largest man-made lake.

The department of Ardennes includes parts of the Ardennes Forest, and borders with Belgium. Rivers, valleys and mountains provide a backdrop for your holiday, and you’ll find an abundance of restaurants serving delicious meals with dry-cured ham being a regional speciality. The National Regional Park of Ardennes is a favourite place for walking, and the Green Way is an Ardennes cycle trail that passes through the forest. This is the department to visit for music festivals, the biennial World Festival of Puppet Theatres, and historic buildings such as the Château de Sedan.

Aube is a particularly peaceful department, where a gîte holiday is a particularly relaxing experience. There are sleepy little villages, slow winding rivers and farms and fields that stretch for miles and are interspersed occasionally with patches of forest. Castles and museums make up the department’s main attractions, and the Orient Forest Regional National Park is a favourite place to visit, though despite the peace and quiet Aube has one major attraction that makes it a popular place for families. If you’re visiting Champagne-Ardenne and want an attraction that appeals to kids, then you’ll want to set aside a day or two for Nigloland. It’s one of the best theme parks in France, Disneyland aside, and has four themed areas and plenty of exciting rides and shows.

Haute-Marne is one of two departments in which you can visit Lake Der-Chantecoq with its beaches and water sport opportunities. You can book a boat tour, or walk along the shore and look out for resident wildlife. The department spent some time under the German occupation during World War II, but is now a particularly peaceful place to enjoy a French holiday. Attractions include the home of Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Free French Forces, and the memorial museum dedicated to him in Colombey-les-deux-Eglises. Haute-Marne’s fascinating military history, and its lakes and rivers perfect for fishing and boating, make it a great choice for a visit at any time of the year.

Sharing access to Europe’s largest man-made lake, the department of Marne is known for its spectacular beauty and for its charming little villages. It’s a place where you can try water sports, go on wine trails and see lovely little timber-framed houses alongside churches that look like they were created for postcards. Hire a canoe, or book your place on a boat tour, before exploring the champagne vineyards that this department is famed for. Cyclists and walkers will be in their element, with hundreds of paths and trails to explore, and with attractions like the Cathedral of Reims and the Valmy Battlefield to occupy your time it’s really no surprise that Marne is so popular.

Use the search page on GiteSearch to find your ideal self catering property or use the link below to see our range of cottages, gites and villas in this region.

 

Areas of Champagne Ardenne

Ardennes
The department of Ardennes includes parts of the Ardennes Forest, and borders with Belgium. Rivers, valleys and mountains provide a backdrop for your holiday.

Aube
Aube is a particularly peaceful department, where a gîte holiday is a particularly relaxing experience. There are sleepy little villages, slow winding rivers and farms and fields that stretch for miles and are interspersed occasionally with patches of forest.

Haute Marne
Haute-Marne is one of two departments in which you can visit Lake Der-Chantecoq with its beaches and water sport opportunities. You can book a boat tour, or walk along the shore and look out for resident wildlife.

Marne
Sharing access to Europe's largest man-made lake, the department of Marne is known for its spectacular beauty and for its charming little villages. It's a place where you can try water sports, go on wine trails and see lovely little timber-framed houses alongside churches that look like they were created for postcards.