Inheritance and history

Here the history is visited.
A few kilometres from there you find the most imposing fortress of Europe
35 000 m2 on 7 levels. A giant which overhangs the town of Sedan. You should take the necessary time to visit this masonry. Wet staircases, staff waiting room, bastions... each recess is to be discovered. There are other fortresses in this area: Villy and its last fort of the Maginot Line, Rocroi and its citadel out of star but also the churches of Thiérache, strengthened to protect the villagers in the event of attack.
History is omniprsent in the numerous museums which one finds here. The History of an area is told through its activity.
Exploitation of slate, the forest, of the felt, arms manufacture... it is a whole economy and society which are presented in these sites of memories. With a eeconstitution of ancestral gestures, put in surprising scene, each one has its originality. These museums, are as many homages paid to these women and these men who made this country what it is: a ground of traditions.

Champagnes & Middle – Ages
Coast of Bar, Country of Othe, Chaourçois. These soils extend to the south and the west of Troyes.
The Coast of Bar is located between Bar-sur-Aube and Riceys. It ows its reputation to the champagne which is produced here. The vineyard covers the slopes of the broken relief. The visitors discover this soil of the flowered villages by traversing the Tourist Road of Champagne; 26 producers of champagne accomodate you throughout the year. Whatever the season is, there is always a lesson to follow during a visit in a vine grower. In September, they are the grape harvest. Some propose to those who like it, to take part ,during one day time, in the gathering of the grape. An unforgettable experience in good mood. Later it is the assembly before the setting in bottle... The vine growers, proud of their ground and their product, are happy to share their knowledge and their passion.

Riceys: The largest champagne soil
This village ,made up of 3 agglomerations, has the largest Champagne soil (866 ha) las well as three controlled labels of origin that are the Champagne, Coteaux Champenois and Rosé of Riceys which was one of the preferred wines of Louis XIV.

A visit of a cellar followed by the obligatory tasting is thus impossible to circumvent in this southernmost part of Champagne-Ardenne... an occasion to discover a champagne with very sunny savours .
the second soil, the Country of Othe, is a gigantic orchard of apple trees. Here one produces cider with no less than 40 different apples. During the season of harvest (in the end of October), occurs the Festival of Apple. During one day, each one discovers the procedures of the making of the cider. Starting from the Harvest to the press, all is presented in a traditional environment. A market makes it possible to buy apples or the cider according to the preferences. Finally various exhibitions recall the history of the Country of Othe. This fruit is found in many culinary specialities of this country: tart, wafer, compote... A cocktail was even invented here; Containing cider, blackcurrant and honey it bears the name of Cacibel. To drink fresh as an aperitif.
Lastly, Chaourcois known for its cheese: Chaource. From a zone of Controlled Label of origin, this rich cheese finishes a meal well ,but it can also be been served as an aperitif or as an appetizer course when it is prepared with fondue and mushrooms; a local receipt to be taste imperatively.

Travel in the heart of the Middle Ages of the town of Côte des Bar
The historical pearl of this sector is the medieval Troyes. This city kept its houses of the 16th century and an architecture with typical wood sides of the Champagne grove. The Turret of the Goldsmith and the House of the Baker are two beautiful examples. No less than 9 churches are in Troyes. Each one with a different style: stained glasses windows with the beaded technique, and sculpture of the school of Troyes... This city is also known as the capital of the mesh.

This old activity lead to the creation of many stores of factory which make of Troyes the city offering the most important surface of stores of factory of France. Lastly, one needs to stroll for the discovery of various museums of this city: the Museum of Modern art with an impressive collection of paintings; the House of the Tool and its some 10 000 exhibited tools; the Pharmacy of the Dieu Hotel remained intact... the list is long. The wonders of the history can be also discovered in the surrounding countryside of Troyes. In Chaource, the church of St Jean the Baptist contains impressive entombment. In the Côte des Bar, one will be able to walk on the traces of the painter Renoir in Essoyes or to visit the crystal manufactures in Bayel which are in activity since their foundation in 1666. In the Country of Othe, the church of Villemaur-sur-Vanne is impossible to circumvent. Built between 12th and the 16th century, this church is characterized by a bell-tower out of frame covered with shingles. The museums are numerous: ranging from the old jalopies to the headstocks of yesteryear while passing by the museum of the cider, the choice does not miss.