For future holidays in France, how about taking the time to live and simply enjoy the simple pleasures of life? Appreciate every moment, the landscapes, the heritage and punctuate each visit with gourmet moments around local flavours and the best vintages. The Aube en Champagne is a territory of character for all those who wish to live unforgettable gastronomic and oenotourism experiences, on the terrace of a restaurant or during a picnic near a monument or in a green setting. A land of Champagne, this department never ceases to surprise when it comes to local products and to stop for a relaxing moment over a glass of champagne. To crunch, delight the taste buds, bubble and take an interest in local know-how in the company of passionate professionals, the Aube en Champagne awaits all those who wish to have a maximum of good time during the fine weather
Combining heritage and the pleasures of the mouth
L'Aube en Champagne is eager to welcome gourmets and inevitably knows how to offer pleasure to its visitors. Aube's gastronomy is both rustic and refined, and one cannot help but think of its main specialities: andouillette from Troyes, sauerkraut and cheese from Chaource. Terrines, fruit and vegetables from local producers, home-made jams, there are a thousand ways to fill your basket and escape for a gourmet moment in the various regions of the department
To discover the local specialities, holidaymakers can start by going to Troyes, and after visiting its charming historic centre with its half-timbered houses and mansions, settle down on the terrace of one of the many restaurants in the medieval city. In summer, the season for picnics with family and friends, monuments also open their gardens to lay your tablecloth and have lunch in a prestigious setting, as is the case at the Château de la Motte-Tilly in Nogent-sur-Seine, an elegant residence surrounded by a park with the label Jardin Remarquable. It is in this majestic setting that a local restaurateur offers a picnic around vegetables from the incredible 6,000 m2 organic vegetable garden. On another day, after a leisurely stroll through the picturesque village of Les Riceys and then a hike through the surrounding vineyards, it is the Château de Taisne, jewel of the Laignes Valley and the Côte des Bar, which awaits walkers in its park for a snack in the purest family tradition. You compose your basket with local products and settle down in the shade of hundred-year-old lime trees, on a wrought-iron table or simply on the grass
Another flagship monument not to be missed under any circumstances in the Aube in Champagne, the Dosches mill offers a peaceful setting in the heart of a calm and soothing nature. It is here that you can discover the history and mechanism of this superb wooden mill on a pivot, watch the sails being set and visit the barn and the bakery. Everyone also has the freedom to stroll through the permaculture green spaces of a place committed to the presentation of the environment. The Garden of Delights and its approach around the five senses, then the Garden of Simples or the Power of Flowers dedicated to the discovery of plants and their virtues await visitors wishing a moment of communion with nature. Not forgetting the plant maze which is a delight for children
Discovering wines and beverages
The Aube in Champagne is a real paradise for wine tourism enthusiasts. The discovery of the wines that make up the richness of the area is the opportunity for beautiful walks in the vineyards, tasting moments and gourmet breaks in the middle of nature. The best way to discover champagne is still to get closer to the professionals of the vineyard. And to do this, head for the commune of Ville-sur-Arce and the Champagne Rémy Massin et Fils estate, where winegrowers welcome holidaymakers for a gastronomic champagne picnic at the top of the hillsides. After discovering the stages of production of this prestigious wine and visiting the cellars, head for the coolness of the vineyards for a tasting of local flavours. To vary the pleasures, the De Barfontarc house in Baroville also offers many wine tourism activities. Guided walks in the vineyards of the Côte des Bar, discovery of champagne making, introduction to the art of wine tasting and sparkling picnics in the heart of the vineyard are all moments to be enjoyed by several people. And as proof that wine tourism offers infinite experiences in the Aube region of Champagne, the Soret-Devaux Champagne House combines the history of the vineyard and wine tasting with a view of the Champagne panoramas during walks or on board a converted trailer
Champagne is not the only one to be popular in the department: many beers are brewed by hand and the rosé des Riceys also offers beautiful tastings. Harvested on the sunniest slopes, it is even considered one of the best rosé wines in France! As for the cider, which is also the pride of the Aube region in Champagne, a trip to the Hotte farm allows you to dive into the heart of its production, stroll through the orchards and visit the Cider Museum. This formidable place of preservation of the gastronomic heritage exhibits the old equipment of the farm, and retraces three centuries of cider making history in the Pays d'Othe
Once the basket is filled with the best products, a gastronomic and oenotouritic stay in the Aube in Champagne would not be complete without taking the time to settle down for a picnic in the unavoidable Regional Natural Park of the Forêt d'Orient. One then takes pleasure in uncorking a bottle and settling down for lunch on the edge of a deep forest or one of the great lakes of Champagne. Lac d'Orient, Lac du Temple and Lac Amance are ideal places for a gourmet stopover, as well as for the practice of water sports.
