Discover the treasures of Soude, Marne, Champagne-Ardenne

Day 3 of the cycle route created by the Marne Tourism Board to reach the Lake Der-Chantecoq from the town of Dormans. This tourist itinerary alternates between the V52 cycle path and the small roads of the vineyards, in order to enrich the journey with cultural visits. This third and final stage of the journey starts in Châlons-en-Champagne and finishes at Lac du Der, passing through the town of Vitry-le-François. Two options are available at the start of the route: to reach Vitry-le-François by following the V52 or by taking the train. In the first case, it may be preferable to complete this final stage in two days instead of one.

This trail is a chance to follow in the footsteps of Maurice Genevoix and his comrades in the first months of the First World War. As a young officer aged 24, he boarded the train at Châlons-en-Champagne station on 25 August 1914 with reinforcements for the 106th RI. At the time, they did not know where their train was taking them…the violence and horror of the fighting, but also the friendship and brotherhood between companions. He was discharged after being seriously injured on 25 April 1915. He would deliver a moving account of his part in the war in his major work, “Ceux de 14” (“Those of 14”).

De l'Aube à la Barbuise "“ 65 km "“ easy level. To see during your trip: Churches Saint-Etienne of Arcis-sur-Aube and Saint-Etienne-sous-Barbuise, the valley of Aube, Timber-frame churches of Longsols and Morembert.

Napoléon et les églises à pan de bois: 118 km / mean level. To see during your trip: Timber-frame churches of Lentilles, Bailly-le-Franc and Juzanvigny, the market hall of Chavanges, Soulaines Dhuys, the lakes of the Orient Forest, the hall of Dienville, theNapoleon and church treasures museum in Brienne-le-Chateau, Forêt d'Orient Ecomuseum in Brienne-la-Vieille, Chruches of Dienville, Epothémont, Hampigny, La Rothière, Chavanges and Maizières-les-Brienne.

Promenade Beaufortine - duration 1h30 - easy level - marking white and green. On the trail of a forgotten fortress on the borders of the Champagne chaklands and the Champagne wetlands...

Mean level - To see during your tip: Timber-frame churches of Bailly-le-Franc, Lentilles - Panoramic view of the lake Amance and its Marina in Dienville - Potteries in Amance - Bar sur Seine: the tower of clock, the vestiges of the feodal chateau - The Tourist Route of Champagne.

Promenade des Libellules - duration: 4h30 - easy level - marking: white and green. Discrete and elegant like a shooting star, dragonglies can be found in the lights of the moving and quiet waters.

Promenade du Bocage - duration: 2h45 - easy level - marking white and green. Discover fauna and flora in the "Champagne humide"...

Les balcons du Parc "“ 63 km "“ easy level.To see during your trip: the market hall in Piney, Viewing point of Villehardouin, the Windmill's Dosches, the wash house of Rosnon in Dosches, the ornithological watching of Géraudot.

Take to the skies during a hot air balloon flight over Reims and its surroundings!  You will enjoy an exceptional view of the Champagne region, taking in all of its distinct natural and architectural heritage. TAKE TO THE SKIES DURING A HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT OVER REIMS AND ITS SURROUNDINGS! You will enjoy an exceptional view of the Champagne region, taking in all of its distinct natural and architectural heritage. Upon your arrival, attend the inflation of the balloon before climbing into the basket and leaving Taissy behind for an escapade in the skies above Reims. Rising with the wind, you will fly over Reims at high altitude to gaze down on its renowned architectural heritage from the sky. You'll then be treated to spectacular views of the iconic vineyards and hillsides of Champagne as you fly over the Champagne Tourist Route or the Montagne de Reims Regional Nature Park. Once you return to solid ground, you’ll share a traditional balloonists toast to celebrate your adventure. A charming interlude in the airs of Reims to discover the landscapes of Champagne.

Discover the city of Reims with the City Pass: unlimited transportation and free access to cultural and leisure activities! DISCOVER THE CITY OF REIMS WITH THE CITY PASS: UNLIMITED TRANSPORTATION AND FREE ACCESS TO CULTURAL AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES! This pass offers you access to 18 tourist services for 24, 48 or 72 hours. Discover the list of free sites below with the Reims City Pass. You will notably be able receive: * Entry to the Tau Palace (recognised by UNSECO) * A guided visit in Reims Cathedral (recognisd by UNSECO) * A circuit of the city by bus with an audioguide * Reductions to visit the champagne caves and vineyard caves * Lots of other activites and reductions! You will be able to use the CITURA public transport (all bus and tramway lines in Reims included) without limit during your chosen time period. You will also be able to receive shopping discounts and discounts for different shows, trips and excursions in the surrounding vineyards. You will also be able to discover the largest wine cave of the whole region at a reduced price!

Take a trip back in time aboard a vintage 2CV, the iconic French mid-century automobile, to discover the must-see sights of Reims and the nearby vineyards. In the company of your driver-guide, set off on an original 2-hour ride. ON THIS QUIRKY 2-HOUR TOUR, YOUR DRIVER-GUIDE WILL TAKE YOU INTO THE HEART OF THE CITY OF REIMS AND OUT TO THE FAMOUS VINEYARDS OF CHAMPAGNE COUNTRY. From the car, you’ll be able to admire fine examples of the city’s rich heritage including the Reims Cathedral and Tau Palace, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Abbey of Saint-Remi, a registered historic monument, also lays on the tour circuit.  Your driver will then head out to Hautvillers in the Montagne de Reims, home of Dom Perignon and the birthplace of champagne. Take advantage of this original tour to see the best of historic Reims and the prestigious champagne vineyards! 

Discover the unmissable sights of the “City of Kings” and its surroundings thanks to this 1-hr-15-min. tour in a classic 2CV car. Fall under the charm of Reims and the surrounding countryside on this tour with a private chauffeur-guide. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS UNUSUAL TOUR IN A VINTAGE 2CV TO ADMIRE REIMS AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. ACCOMPANIED BY YOUR DRIVER-GUIDE, SET OFF FOR A 75-MINUTE RIDE THROUGH THE TOWN AND COUNTRY. You’ll be able to admire the valleys and hills that characterize the region of Reims as you make your way out of the city. Stop off on a hillside close to some vineyards, where your guide will reveal all the secrets of the history and production of champagne. As you head back into Reims, you’ll pass some of city’s most important heritage sites such as the Reims Cathedral and Tau Palace, which are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Abbey of Saint-Remi, a registered historic monument, also lays on the tour circuit.  Altogether, this tour by vintage car is a novel and efficient way to discover the “City of Kings” and the champagne vineyards! 

Experience an original tour lasting 2 hrs. 30 mins aboard a vintage Citroën car. Take advantage of this activity to discover the must-see sites of Reims in an original way and visit a cellar to taste some excellent champagne! TAKE A TRIP INTO THE PAST ABOARD A VINTAGE 2CV, THE ICONIC FRENCH AUTOMOBILE. Accompanied by your driver-guide, set off for a 2-hr-30-min ride through the town and country. Sit back and take in the major historical sites of Reims. From the car, you’ll be able to admire fine examples of the city’s rich heritage including the Reims Cathedral and Tau Palace, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Abbey of Saint-Remi, a registered historic monument, also lays on the tour circuit.  Your driver will then head out of town on the winding country roads that lead into the heart of the Champagne wine region. Take advantage of a visit to a local cellar to taste some excellent champagne! Make the most of this original trip to discover the “City of Kings” and Champagne Country!  

Enjoy a unique trip aboard an iconic 2CV vintage car to discover the best of Reims and the nearby countryside. It’s also the occasion to visit a cellar in the Champagne wine region and taste some of the excellent champagne! IN THE COMPANY OF YOUR DRIVER-GUIDE, SET OFF ON AN ORIGINAL 3-HR-30-MIN RIDE. ENJOY THIS FUN TOUR TO DISCOVER ESSENTIAL REIMS AND THE FAMOUS VINEYARDS OF CHAMPAGNE COUNTRY. From the car, you’ll be able to admire fine examples of the city’s rich heritage including the Reims Cathedral and Tau Palace, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Abbey of Saint-Remi, a registered historic monument, also lays on the tour circuit.  Your driver will then take you to meet a local winemaker, where you will visit the winery and cellar before tasting some of the champagne produced on-site! Make the most of this original trip to discover the “City of Kings” and the Champagne wine region! 

Spend an hour aboard a vintage Citroën 2CV to discover the must-see sites of Reims in an original way, stopping off to taste some champagne en route! Your driver-guide will take you on a journey through the city’s streets and through its history.  THIS ORIGINAL RIDE WILL TAKE YOU TO THE HEART OF THE “CITY OF KINGS”. IN THE COMPANY OF YOUR DRIVER-GUIDE, SET OFF FOR A 1-HOUR TOUR OF CENTRAL REIMS. From the car, you’ll be able to admire the rich heritage of the city including the Reims Cathedral and Tau Palace, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You’ll also see the Abbey of Saint-Remi, another listed historic monument.  Take a look at the champagne houses located in the Crayères, and make the most of a break to taste some champagne! You will continue towards the historical boulevards and cross the Place du Forum to finish at Place Royale. Take advantage of this quirky tour to see the best of historic Reims! 

Fabulous Vegan and gluten free B&B in the gorgeous countryside of the Champagne-Ardennes. All 5 rooms are fully equipped and furnished to a high standard with private en suite with shower, basin and WC. A homemade vegan and gluten free breakfast is included in the price, as well as tourist tax. The Rose room and Garden room are suitable to bring a dog, The Flamingo room and Leaf room are suitable for families and have space for a children's cot. On request you can join us every day for a three course meal, depending on availability. If you would like a picnic please ask about the options at the moment of booking. The property can also be rented as a self-catering holiday home per weekend, midweek or week.

Amidst the village, this beautifully restored farmhouse has been converted into a self-catering accommodation furnished to a high and comfortable standard. On the ground floor, vast living-room (fireplace, TV, hi-fi, juke-box). Open plan kitchen, dishwasher, washing machine, microwave oven, freezer. 1 bedroom (double bed, 2 single beds) ensuite bathroom. Toilets. On the first floor: lounge, TV, mezzanine with 2 single beds, 2 bedrooms (2 single beds). Bathroom, toilets, 1 bedroom (1 double bed + 2 single beds in a mezzanine) ensuite bathroom and toilet. Terrace equipped with garden furniture and BBQ. Enclosed garden 2500m². Garage. Ping-Pong. Basketball. Swing. Bakery, newspaper store nearby. Shops in Vouziers, 15km away.

Live the adventure of Ferra Botanica, an electric-assisted railbike in a protected green space! Bike + Rails + Fun + Nature = Ferra Botanica! With family or friends, set off to discover an astonishing 13 km route (round trip) aboard your rail bike! Ferra Botanica is the successful marriage of bicycle and train, of Man and Nature for an experience rich in emotion! Pedal at your own pace thanks to the electric assistance, on a straight, flat route without much difficulty. Ferra Botanica is a fun outdoor activity, in the heart of the Sensitive Natural Area of ​​Val du Haut Morin, where, here and there, poetic and intriguing installations appear on the theme of plants and animals. Arts lovers will appreciate this aesthetic scenography for an enchanted interlude! How it works ? Each rail bike can accommodate 2 to 5 people, beyond that, you will need to rent another one. Only 2 people are pedaling, but nothing prevents changing teams between the outward journey and the return journey. Departure by small train from the La Ferté-Gaucher Tourist Office, which will take you directly to the site. (supplement of 2€ per person) The different formulas by reservation only (48 hours in advance): > Ardoise Fertoise: from €15: aperitif formula with local products, from homemade foie gras to sausage or ham on the bone (depending on availability) which will delight gourmets and discerning palates! > Farm Plate: from €15: picnic package offering the best products from our farms with raw vegetables, free-range chicken fillet and seasonal dessert. > Vegetarian Plate: from €15: picnic formula offering the best products from our farms with raw vegetables and mixed salad and seasonal dessert. > Sandwich formula: from €10: different types of sandwich are offered (buttered ham, raw chicken, tuna mayonnaise, Brie de Meaux) and seasonal dessert. On-site services: shop and sale of local products, relaxation and picnic area, water points and WC.

Lac du Der is a natural area of national and international importance, where more than 310 species of birds can be observed throughout the year, depending on the migration season. Located opposite the lake, the Chantecoq observatory is the largest of the Lac du Der observatories. It is the largest of the observatories on Lac du Der, offering early-morning viewing of Sandhill Cranes during the migration period (October to March). Birdwatching guides are available to help you discover this incredible wildlife.

At the Village Musée du Der, you can discover the incredible story of the three villages that disappeared to make way for the construction of Lac du Der (the largest artificial lake in Europe). Several typical buildings were saved from destruction or drowning and rebuilt on the museum site: the church in Nuisement-aux-Bois, the Blacksmith's House, the dovecote, etc.

Ideal for a short break and a group photo

The estate remembers its monastic past in its name. Dotted with ponds, a lake and a stream, the park has some beautiful statues, a rocky grotto, a beehive, angling grounds, a wash-house built in a style typical of the Argonne and a wine cellar with an old wine press and grape grinder in the old Champagne-style outbuildings. The park also has a number of rare trees and numerous hydrangeas. Outside the summer period, tours can be arranged for groups with advance booking.

St. Remy’s is an outstanding Flamboyant Gothic church with ornate hanging keystones, richly carved pinnacles and gargoyles and a carved, painted and gilded altarscreen with shutters depicting scenes from Christ’s Passion.

Considering the age of the plantations, one can come to the conclusion that the park has been designed around 1880, probably by the great-great grandfather of the actual owners... It is hard to imagine the gardens of Pierre Merlin, when he lived there, at the turn of the 16th century ! We only own a fairly simple plan of the gardens, dated 1793 : the terrace was then divided into four grass-plots, which became in the 19th century one single grass-plot, surrounded by a box rim; The grounds show definitely two different approaches : the terrace "à la française" and the park itselsf, a vast meadow dotted by distant clumps of trees, as far as one can see... A romantic walk along the shaded banks of the river Saulx, stone benches now and then, allowing some rest and gorgeous points of view on the castle, the river ot the 17th century stone bridge of the village : all is combined to gratify the visitors.

In the 16th century, the aristocracy of the Duchy of Bar owned country-châteaux in the "Vallée de la Saulx", a few miles away from Bar-le-Duc. In 1506, Pierre Merlin, auditor of the Duke of Bar, had his castle built in Haironville. The general architecture of the castle de la Varenne is sober, the proportions very harmonious. The pigeon-house, a royal privilege, ends the left wing, proud of its 3000 pigeeon-holes. In the main hall, both the magnificent and rare Renaissance stone panelled ceiling and the 18th century main staircase are vivid witnesses of the history of la Varenne. The grounds, surrounded by the river "la Saulx", include a terrace in the French style and a romantic park with remarkable trees.

Winepress typical of the XVth century reminding us "Pineau de Bar"production until the begining of the XXth century. At that time a dozen press wines were said to be located in our town. This thriving business was abruptly put to an end when all the vineyards on the hill - now called “Ste Catherine” were destroyed by the Phylloxera in the XIXth century. This wine-press is now listed as part of the National Heritage

The church of Saint-Etienne, an elegant flamboyant building, nuanced by renaissance details, shelters an uncanny sculpture by Ligier Richier, the Transi - a decaying corpse proudly offering this heart to God - whose disturbing realism and morbid representation are haunting. A Must-see !

Once part of the Duchy of Bar and Upper Lorraine, Bar-le-Duc is steeped in culture and history. Come wander through upper town area,one of the most outstanding Renaissance urban ensembles in France. Part of the "Towns and countries of art and history" network. Bar-le-Duc reveals treasures of 17th century architecture - sculpted pediments, fluted pilasters or overhanging gargoyles and other must-sees remind us of the town prestigious past.

Fast food, alpine specialities, pizzas. Chef's special on weekdays.

Le Carré Gourmand welcomes guests in a convivial family atmosphere. Simplicity and generosity are the keywords here. So stop for a while and taste traditional fare from days gone by.

Located on the outskirts of Bar-le-Duc, the Auberge du Val d'Ornain offers pleasant, rural surroundings in which to enjoy dishes with a Spanish flavour.

Next to the bowling alley. Plancha grill and rotisserie. Wood-fired pizzas.

Located in the heart of the Renaissance district. Breathtaking view of the town. A new look at traditional cuisine with a hint of the exotic.

This restaurant serves meals made on the premises using only regional produce.

Doudou is a bistro in Bar-le-Duc where you can have a meal or just a drink. 100% vegetarian home-made food, with the accent on local, organic and seasonal produce.

In Contrisson in Meuse, not far from Lac du Der and Revigny-sur-Ornain, Marie-Elise Schuster welcomes guests to her renovated farmhouse, the Gîte du Chaurupt.

Bar-le-Duc 20 km. Close to the Argonne and Champagne, Reims 80 km. Single-storey gîte with 105 sq. metres of living space, located in one of the outhouses of a castle included in the additional list of historic monuments dating from the 17th to 19th centuries. It consists of a double living room, 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Very quiet setting in a 22-hectare estate with “jardin remarquable” (outstanding garden) status. Tennis court and swimming pool on site, shared with the other gîte, Via Romana.

Bar-le-Duc 20 km. Located in the outhouses of a castle that was once a fortified house built to guard the border between Champagne and Lorraine, “Via Romana” has 3 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a spacious living room with open-plan kitchen. The gîte has been renovated throughout. It is situated on an estate with “jardin remarquable” (outstanding garden) status so guests have the added enjoyment of superb surroundings. Tennis court and swimming pool on site, shared with the other gîte, La Leurande.

Room in a pretty cottage in a small town 20 km from Bar-le-Duc. Comprises a double bedroom, bathroom, separate WC, private living room.

Well-appointed B&B accommodation in a delightful, walled property. Towels provided. Copious breakfast included in the price. Guests have access to the conservatory. Private garden. Quiet street. Gift: guests receive a packet of butter biscuits at the end of their stay. Bar-le-Duc 17 km, Sermaize-les-Bains 10 km.

Anne and Franck are delighted to welcome you to their charming and relaxing gîte. The house is located in the small village of Sommeilles, in the heart of the Argonne, 25 minutes from Bar le Duc, 1h from Reims, 1h45 from Metz, 1h30 from Nancy, and 2h30 from Paris (or 1h by train, the Meuse TGV station is 30 minutes from the gîte). This independent gîte will delight nature lovers (Argonne forest, Saulx Valley, Lac du Der...) and lovers of historic sites (Verdun, Valmy...). You'll find every comfort for 2 to 10 people in this renovated village house: a fully-equipped kitchen, a vast living room with a large corner sofa, 4 large bedrooms including 1 double on the ground floor, with a cot, and 3 bedrooms upstairs, 2 shower rooms + separate WC. The gîte is equipped with fiber optics (Internet and TV). The terrace features a charcoal barbecue, and you'll have access to enclosed grounds, ideal for children, with 2 goats (Cannelle and Pim's), and 3 hens. For the little ones: BB bed, high chair and safety gate, books, board games, crayons, Kapla... You can also visit the farm (milk and cereal production) and make friends with Franck's cows and calves! We'll also be happy to advise you on the best places to visit in the area, and if you feel like it, we'll be delighted to let you taste the local produce. For workers and employees on business trips: rates and availability on request, depending on the number of rooms used and the number of nights.

A quiet campsite near all amenities and the sports centre. 3 mobile homes available for rent throughout the year.