The best dog-friendly hikes and walks in Montagne De Reims

A significant step in Champillon's fame occurred in 1788, when Mr. Nicolas Ricoteau received a concession for a plot of land in the hamlet of Bellevue to build an inn. He had noticed that the radiant sun illuminated the place, even when the valley was shrouded in mist, and that from this spot, travelers enjoyed a magnificent panorama of the region. The first owner of the Auberge Neuve, now Royal-Champagne, was also attracted by the frequent passing stagecoaches and carriages, whose horses, tired from a long climb, had to be relieved and whose thirsty drivers clung to them to quench their thirst. It was a staging post for Napoleon the day after the Battle of Reims (1814).

In the Middle Ages, Champillon had only one chapel dedicated to "La Madeleine." The current church, built in 1684, is now dedicated to St. Barnabas, who was undoubtedly the patron saint of the place throughout history. It has a very ordinary structure. The west door is arched with two niches, above which is a modern brick oculus. The gable bears the date 1829, the date of the facade's reconstruction. (c) https://www.champillon.com/fr/decouvrir/tourisme-et-patrimoine/112-l-eglise-saint-barnab%C3%A9.html

Ayala & Co. is a Champagne producer based in the Aÿ region of Champagne. The house, founded in 1860, produces both vintage and non-vintage cuvee. It is currently being managed by Hadrien Mouflard, former secretary general of Champagne Bollinger. The chef de cave is Julian Gout. The house was one of the founding members of the Syndicat des Grandes Marques in 1882. In 1855, Edmond de Ayala, the son of a Colombian diplomat, went to visit the Viscount of Mareuil in order to learn how to vinify wine. There he met Gabrielle d'Albrecht, the Viscount's niece. They married in 1858 and Gabrielle brought the Château d'Aÿ and magnificent vines as her dowry. This is how the House was later founded in 1860. (c) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayala_%26_Co.

Aÿ is most famous as a centre of the production of Champagne. Aÿ's vineyards are located in the Vallée de la Marne subregion of Champagne, and are classified as Grand Cru (100%) in the Champagne vineyard classification. The vineyards, harvest huts, presses, and cellars in the region were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015 as part of the Champagne hillsides, houses and cellars site, because of the region's testimony to the development of champagne.[3] Many prestigious Champagne houses own vineyards in the immediate vicinity, and several producers are located in Aÿ, including Ayala and Bollinger. (c) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%BF

We had to cross the main road in a rather adventurous way, as we had previously taken a different turn in the forest. It would have been better to stay on the route in the forest and walk towards the town.

The route was mostly flooded with water or muddy. We had to go around the entire eastern part of the route because it was impassable due to water and forest clearing. The journey was also made difficult by swarms of mosquitoes. Additionally, I was bitten by a tick. It is worth checking before the trip whether it is possible to cross it and be sure to equip yourself with a good repellent.

In addition to the place name Saint Imoges, the stone refers to the city of Longmont in the US state of Colorado, founded in 1871. But what is the connection? Perhaps here: According to the municipality of Saint-Imoges, the place was temporarily renamed "Longmont" during the French Revolution (1793 - 1801)

This former communal washhouse of the municipality of Saint-Imoges is definitely worth seeing. The information board inside is also interesting and worth reading.