Christmas and Champagne – the right pairing, says Janine Marsh as she treads the sunshine incredible alongside one of many world’s most well-known and trendy streets to expertise the Habits de Lumière mild pageant in Epernay.
For a lot of the 12 months, Épernay’s Avenue du Champagne, one of the vital well-known thoroughfares on the earth, is a sublime, and fairly serene road. The lengthy, extensive avenue hosts a few of the most well-known Champagne names from Moët to Pol Roger, primarily based in stately homes and sustaining a picture of silky sophistication which we, the general public get a glimpse of on polished excursions of their cellars and tasting rooms.
However – every year, for 3 days, the refined picture goes out of the window because the capital of the champagne-making area goes all out festive for its well-known winter pageant – the Habits de Lumière. Don’t fear, there’s nonetheless loads of Champagne tasting, however there’s additionally music, a rare road mild present, pop up Champagne and meals stalls, fireworks and exhibits, a parade and cooking contests.
Habits de Lumière
Simply over an hour from Paris by prepare, Épernay’s winter pageant is straightforward to get to, and if you wish to see the easiest of the occasion, go on Friday or Saturday and keep in a single day so you’ll be able to benefit from the night-time spectacle.
Every day provides one thing totally different, on Saturday it’s gastronomy that’s highlighted with cooks and winegrowers pairing as much as provide cooking demonstrations and tasting periods. There are wine and meals workshops and cellar excursions. On Sunday a parade of classic vehicles takes place.
As nightfall falls on Friday and Saturday, the road begins to rework right into a sea of color, mild projections and luminous artwork. Pop up Champagne bars begin sprouting like truffles below an oak tree. Tables groan below the load of bottles. The streets fill with individuals who promenade alongside the mile (1.5 km) lengthy Avenue, stopping to pattern a glass right here and there, to admire the son et Lumière exhibits or dance at a pop-up disco.
What to see and do in Epernay
Beneath your toes on this refined metropolis, are miles and miles of magnificent champagne cellars. They have been first constructed a whole lot of years in the past to carry the dear fizz – making this one of the vital affluent streets on the earth. It’s estimated a whopping 200 million bottles of Champagne are held underground right here in round 60 miles (90 km) of cellars, billions of {dollars} value, quietly ageing to perfection.
The primary to dig out the chalky soil to maintain his wine in, was Claude Moët, founding father of the maison that also carries his title. He wanted someplace darkish and funky with a gentle temperature to maintain the bottles of fermenting Champagne. Others adopted his lead.
In 1807 Napoleon Bonaparte took a tour of Moët’s cellars, a fan of Champagne “…In victory one deserves it; in defeat one wants it” he as soon as mentioned. He left his tricorne hat behind, it’s nonetheless there. Legend has it that the custom of sabrage, opening a Champagne bottle with a sword, is alleged to have been invented by Napoleon’s troops as a strategy to have fun their victories.
If you wish to discover out extra in regards to the historical past of Champagne, pop in to the Champagne Wine and Regional Archaeology Museum which was the previous dwelling (Chateau Perrier) and reception rooms of Champagne maker Pierre Nicolas Perrier (now Maison Perrier-Jouët). Let’s simply say these champagne makers of outdated made some huge cash and so they actually knew the best way to spend it. You’ll uncover an interesting exhibition in regards to the historical past of Épernay and the area. To traverse this space 45 million years in the past, you’d have wanted a ship, it was lined by an ocean. You’ll additionally discover out about champagne the drink from its historical past to the way it’s made. I used to be astonished to seek out out that it takes round 120,000 grape pickers to herald the Champagne harvest annually – plucking every grape rigorously by hand!
Effervescent Épernay’s Luminous Winter Competition!
Throughout the pageant you are able to do tastings in the course of the day at one of many many Champagne homes – it’s greatest to e-book prematurely and a few can solely be visited by appointment.
Eating places get booked up in the course of the occasion, so e-book prematurely for those who can, or eat early to keep away from the push! La Cave de l’Avenue (Chambre d’hotes/restaurant) at one finish of the Avenue de Champagne has a superb wine listing and a bistro-style menu.
Feast your eyes and look out over the city and surrounding Champagne vineyards – hop right into a basket and soar 150m into the sky in a tethered balloon (ballon-epernay.com)!
If you happen to’re a Champagne fan, the Habits de Lumière vibrant celebration of the tip of the 12 months with its glitzy and glamorous tasting bars, fireworks and feel-good issue, will go away you feeling effervescent!
That is the place to be if you wish to style the celebs – below the celebs.
When: 12-14 December 2025
Particulars: habitsdelumiere.epernay.fr/en
Discover out extra about Épernay at: epernay-tourisme.com
Janine Marsh is the creator of a number of internationally best-selling books about France. Her newest e-book The right way to be French – a celebration of the French way of life and artwork de vivre, is out now – a have a look at the French lifestyle. Discover all books on her web site janinemarsh.com
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