I was lucky enough to spend the summer of 2022 living and volunteering in Châlons-en-Champagne! This little town has a lot to offer during your stay from a beautiful river and park, amazing cathedrals, champagne houses, and more. Here are just a few of my favorite spots and some tips for the time you spend in Châlons.

- Elena

DS Coffeehouse

This coffeehouse is the reason that I came to France. It was started and run by some of my family friends, Don (who will be officiating our wedding!) and Sue, who have dedicated their lives to missionary work overseas. This cafe not only has AMAZING coffee & homemade treats, but it’s run by very friendly staff and volunteers, many of whom speak English :) They are open Tuesday-Saturday from 12-6pm and are very centrally located.

Châlons Jard (Parks)

There are a few parks that are worth wandering around. The “Petit Jard” is a small one that is quaint and often has flowers in bloom. This is easy to walk through on your way from the central square to the “Grand Jard” which is down by the river. The river usually has paddle boats that you can rent as well as a bar set up during the evening where you can sit and enjoy a drink.

Cathedrals & Architecture

As soon as you arrive in Châlons you’ll get to enjoy a lot of French countryside and Germanic-influenced architecture. I recommend just walking around the streets and enjoying how beautiful the city is! There are two impressive Cathedrals — one just North of the central square, and the other along the river. They’re both free to enter and wandering around one will give you a good impression of the grandiose Cathedrals that are found throughout small European towns.

Champagne House

If you are looking to enjoy a Champagne House tour and tasting during your time in the Champagne region of France, Châlons has a few to offer!

Joseph Perrier offers an hour-long tour of the “Caves” (cellars) and a tasting of one of their Champagne varieties for 25€. They offer tours in English and if you have anyone under 18 in your group they can still enjoy the tour with a non-alcoholic option for 14€. To get to Champagne Joseph Perrier from the center of town it is about a 25 minute walk or a 15 minute bus ride (bus 01).

https://www.josephperrier.com/en/visites/

If you are looking for larger houses or more options, you can head to the renowned towns of Epernay or Reims for a more in-depth champagne experience.

Wednesday & Weekend Market

Châlons holds a farmers market on weekends and Wednesday mornings. It is located just two blocks over from the central square. It is not overwhelming in size and wandering through it is a lovely way to spend a morning.

Grocery Stores

FranPrix - quick stop grocery store; you’ll find most things you need here

CarreFour - bigger, inside of a shopping center. Huge champagne selection!

Restaurants

DS Coffeehouse - the best coffee you’ll find in the city!

Tresor du Liban - great Lebanese food

La Siciliane - pizza & Italian food

La Mie Câline - this is a chain so I wouldn’t recommend getting all of your pastries here but they do have good lunch options including quiche, beignets, croquettes monsieur, and sandwiches if you’re looking for something quick and easy!

French bakeries - I won’t recommend any specific bakeries because there are so many good ones and its always fun to try a few to find your favorite! My only recommendation is to eat (at least) one pain aux chocolat every day ;)

Train Station

If you are taking the train and arriving directly into the Châlons-en-Champagne station, you will have a 20 minute walk or 10 minute bus ride to get to the center of town, where our recommended hotels are located. I have done this walk several times with suitcases and don’t think it is too bad, but it will of course depend on how tired you are feeling!

Travis' Favorites:

Top of Arc de Triomphe: In my opinion, this is one of the best viewpoints in Paris. The iconic arch is impressive to observe from street-level, but ascending to the top of the monument provides incredible views of the city and the Eiffel Tower! Bonus: go near sunset and witness the Eiffel Tower's lights sparkle at the top of every hour after sundown.

Picnic by Eiffel Tower: Stop by any of Paris' thousands of bakeries or markets and stock up on baguettes, meats, cheeses, pastries, and wine, and take them to the park at the base of the Eiffel Tower! Sit in the grass and snack while you enjoy the magnificent sight of the Eiffel Tower as well as the thousands of Parisians and tourists that you'll see wandering through the area.

Latin Quarter: The Latin Quarter (or 5th Arrondissement) is a neighborhood in central Paris, just south of the Seine River. It offers many bookshops, cafes, and restaurants and is a very picturesque location to get lost in the city streets. Some of the restaurants here are more affordable and can offer authentic three-course French meals for around 25€--check the menu specials they'll have posted outside the restaurants!

Riverside Souvenir Shopping: take a stroll along the Seine River and you'll find Parisians selling artwork, books, and souvenirs from green "Bouquiniste" stands! Take time casually strolling by the stands, enjoying the sounds of the city, and find affordable artwork or souvenirs to bring home!

Elena's Favorites:

Ladurée: This is a famous and popular macaroon store. These are high quality macaroons so if you are only going to try them once, this is the place! There is a storefront located on the Champs-Élysées so if you choose to walk from the Arc du Triomphe to the Louvre this will be right on your way. They also have little carts selling them (with a more limited selection) in various touristy locations around the city such as the Charles Du Gaulle airport train station and Versailles. My favorite is a raspberry macaroon dipped in dark chocolate (usually only found at a store front)!

Montmartre: The Montmartre neighborhood is a great place to wander around, stop in shops, and explore. You can start at the metro station right by Moulin Rouge and then wander your way up to Sacré-Cœur Basilica, which is of course a must see! If you want slightly more guidance through this neighborhood, I recommend this self-led walking tour that takes you on a path to all of the top sites. The website has a link to a google maps path that you can follow with key locations pinned. Each pin has an explanation provided on the website that you can read when you get there.

Entrance to Sacré-Cœur is free, and although the line may look long it usually moves pretty quickly as they are just checking bags before people enter. For 8 euros you can buy a ticket to climb to the top of the dome. It is about ~300 stairs to the top of the dome and provides a great view of Paris. The last entrance for the dome is at 5pm. Be prepared for a very tight spiral staircase all the way to the top!