Overview
The Montagne de Reims Regional Natural Park (Parc Naturel Régional de la Montagne de Reims) is a protected landscape covering roughly 70,000 hectares southeast of the city of Reims in the Marne department of the Grand Est region. Despite its name, the 'mountain' is in fact a plateau — the Montagne de Reims massif — rising gently above the Marne and Vesle river valleys, rarely exceeding 280 metres in elevation. The effect, however, is striking: broad panoramas over rolling vineyards, dense beech and oak forests, and a horizon defined by the towers of Reims Cathedral on clear days.
The park sits at the heart of the Champagne wine country. Its slopes are planted with Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes, and many of the villages dotting the Route Touristique du Champagne here belong to the 'Premier Cru' and 'Grand Cru' classifications. The wider Champagne wine landscape — including parts of this park — was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015.
Beyond viticulture, the park is valued for its biodiversity. The Faux de Verzy — a forest of bizarrely twisted, umbrella-shaped beech trees known as 'faux' (a local dialect term for beech) — is one of France's most unusual natural curiosities and draws visitors year-round. Wildlife including roe deer, wild boar, and numerous bird species inhabits the forested interior.
The park is not a single town but a network of small villages, hamlets, and communes. Verzy, Verzenay, Mailly-Champagne, Tauxières-Mutry, and Hautvillers are among the most visited. Hautvillers, in particular, is celebrated as the village where Dom Pérignon, the Benedictine monk credited with refining early Champagne production techniques, worked and was buried at the abbey.
Before You Go
Visas
France is a Schengen Area member state. For visa guidance specific to your nationality, visit TravelerPulse's Visas section and cross-reference with France's official immigration authority (France Visas: france-visas.gouv.fr).
What to Pack
- Comfortable walking shoes or light hiking boots — trails range from easy vineyard paths to moderately uneven forest tracks
- Layers are advisable even in summer; mornings on the plateau can be cool
- Sun protection for exposed vineyard walks in summer
- A reusable water bottle; village facilities can be sparse between communes
Practical Prep
The park has no single visitor 'hub.' The Maison du Parc in Pourcy serves as the main information centre for the natural park and is a useful first stop for trail maps, event calendars, and local producer contacts. Verify opening hours directly with the park before visiting, as seasonal schedules apply. Reims city, just north of the plateau, is the most practical base for accommodation, dining, and transport connections.
Getting There
By Train
Reims is well connected by TGV high-speed rail from Paris Gare de l'Est, with journey times typically under 45 minutes. From Reims, the park's villages are most conveniently reached by car or bicycle. Verify current schedules and fares on the SNCF website (sncf-connect.com).
By Car
From Paris, the park is approximately 140 km via the A4 motorway toward Reims. Driving is by far the most flexible way to explore the park's scattered communes and viewpoints. Parking is generally available in village centres, though it can be limited during harvest season in September–October.
By Bicycle
The park is popular with cyclists. A signed network of routes — including sections of the Route Touristique du Champagne — connects the villages along the slopes. Bicycle hire is available in Reims; verify current operators locally or through the Reims tourism office.
From Reims
Local bus services connect Reims to some villages within or adjacent to the park, but frequency is limited and not suited to spontaneous day-tripping. Taxi and ride-share options from Reims are available but should be arranged in advance for return journeys from rural communes.
Getting Around
A private car gives the greatest freedom within the park, allowing visitors to move between vineyards, forest areas, and villages at their own pace. The D26 and D34 roads form a scenic loop around the massif and are popular driving routes.
Walking trails are well maintained and marked. The GR14 long-distance footpath crosses the park, and numerous shorter circular sentiers (trails) are available from village starting points. The Maison du Parc in Pourcy and local tourist offices distribute free trail maps — worth collecting on arrival.
Cycling is a realistic and enjoyable way to cover moderate distances, particularly along the vineyard slopes. Electric bike hire (vélo électrique) is available from operators in Reims and some villages; verify availability locally, as providers change seasonally.
Organised guided tours — wine tours, hiking excursions, and heritage visits — depart from Reims and from some Champagne houses within the park. These can be practical for visitors without a car. Check with the Reims tourism office (reims-tourisme.com) for current operators.
Things to See & Do
The Faux de Verzy
The twisted beech forest near the village of Verzy is the park's most singular natural attraction. These centuries-old 'tortured' beeches — technically a genetic mutation causing pendulous, contorted growth — spread over several hectares and are accessible via marked forest paths. Entry to the forest area is free and open year-round; verify any restricted zones locally.
Champagne Cellar Visits
Several small, family-run Champagne producers (récoltants-manipulants) within the park offer cellar tours and tastings by appointment. This is a different experience from the grand maison visits in Reims or Épernay — more intimate, often hosted by the winemaker themselves. Look for signs reading 'Vente Directe' (direct sale) in village lanes, or ask at the Maison du Parc for recommendations.
Viewpoints and Windmills
The Phare de Verzenay — a lighthouse built in 1909 as a promotional stunt by a Champagne house — now houses a small Champagne museum and offers panoramic views over the vineyards. Verify opening hours and admission fees directly before visiting.
Hautvillers Abbey and Village
The Benedictine Abbey of Hautvillers, where Dom Pérignon worked as cellar master, is partially preserved and open to limited visits. The village itself is exceptionally well maintained, with ornate wrought-iron shop signs and flowered facades that make it one of the region's most photogenic. The abbey church, where Dom Pérignon is buried, is generally open to visitors.
Hiking and Nature Walks
The park's interior forests and vineyard edges offer trails for all levels. Spring brings orchids and woodland flowers to forest clearings; autumn colours — particularly in the beech forest — are among the best in northern France. Birdwatchers may spot short-toed treecreepers, European nightjars, and various raptors depending on season.
Route Touristique du Champagne
The marked driving and cycling route winds through the major vine-growing villages of the park, linking grand cru sites with viewpoints and producers. Maps are available from tourist offices.
Food & Drink
Champagne is, understandably, the defining drink of the region — and within the park, the opportunity to taste it closer to its source, directly from small growers, is genuinely different from purchasing in a city shop. Producers vary widely in style, from lean, mineral Blanc de Blancs to fuller-bodied Pinot Noir-dominant blends; asking producers about their specific village character (terroir) is worthwhile.
The regional cuisine of the Marne and Grand Est more broadly leans toward hearty, rural French cooking. Dishes to look for include potée champenoise (a slow-cooked pork and vegetable pot), andouillette (tripe sausage, an acquired taste but a regional staple), and Chaource cheese, a soft cow's milk cheese produced nearby in the Aube. Ratafia de Champagne — a fortified wine made from grape juice and marc brandy, a local speciality — is worth seeking out.
Restaurant options within the park's villages are limited in number. Several villages have a single café-restaurant or auberge; quality varies and hours are not always reliable outside summer. Reims city, just north of the park, offers a far wider range of dining, including several well-regarded gastronomic restaurants. If planning lunch in a park village, it is advisable to call ahead and confirm the restaurant is open.
Markets in surrounding towns — including the Reims covered market (Les Halles du Boulingrin, a listed Art Deco building worth seeing in its own right) — are good sources for regional cheeses, charcuterie, and local wine.
Practical Information
Emergency Services
In France, the single European emergency number is 112 (works from any phone, including without a SIM). SAMU (medical emergency): 15. Police: 17. Fire: 18.
Connectivity
Mobile phone coverage within the park is generally adequate near villages but can be patchy in forested interior areas. Download offline maps (such as Maps.me or Google Maps offline) before entering the park.
Money
The park's villages have limited banking infrastructure. Carry sufficient cash before entering, particularly if planning to buy wine direct from small producers, as not all accept card payment. ATMs are available in Reims.
Accessibility
Some vineyard paths and forest trails are unpaved and uneven, making them difficult for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility. The Faux de Verzy has a short accessible path near the entrance; verify current conditions locally. Driving the Route Touristique du Champagne is a low-effort way to experience the landscape.
Tourist Information
- Maison du Parc, Pourcy (verify hours before visiting)
- Reims Tourism Office: reims-tourisme.com
- Official park site: parc-montagnedereims.fr
Safety
The Montagne de Reims is a low-risk destination by all general measures. Petty crime is rare in rural areas, though normal precautions apply — do not leave valuables visible in parked cars, particularly in busy tourist villages during harvest season.
Hikers and cyclists should be aware that forest roads are also used by agricultural vehicles and hunters (chasse). Hunting season in France typically runs from September to February; on hunt days (usually Sundays and Thursdays), marked paths remain safe but wandering off-trail into forest areas is inadvisable. Look for posted notices at forest entry points indicating active hunting zones.
In summer, tick awareness is relevant in forested and long-grass areas. Wearing long trousers and checking for ticks after walks is recommended. Consult your own doctor or travel health adviser regarding tick-borne encephalitis vaccination if you plan extensive off-trail walking.
