See you in the Aube

Interview with Charline Drappier, marketing manager of Drappier

Charline Drappier represents the 8th generation of the family who elaborate theChampagne Drappier in the small village of Urville at the heart of the Côte des Bar. She welcomes you to the family estate to show you around the historic cellars and taste the house’s unique wines. “In the vicinity”, Charline invites you to discover the Cistercian Abbey of Clairvaux, the birthplace of Champagne, as well as the preserved nature of the Côte des Bar.

Meeting with Christophe Duminil, cider producer in Palis

Christophe Duminil’s farm is located in Palis, at the heart of the Pays d’Othe. He produces ciders, sweet or sharp, apple juice, cider vinegar and a ratafia ideal for apéritif time. His farm products are natural, with no added sugar or preservatives, and come from traditional orchards managed without pesticides or chemical fertilisers. Christophe will be happy to let you taste his products after a visit to the farm. “In the vicinity”, Christophe Duminil proposes to discover the local producers located near the farm such as the Brasserie Thibord or Au comptoir du fromager.

Then walk along the roads and paths of the Pays d’Othe to enjoy these wooded and hilly landscapes and try to find the remarkable trees.

Mahaut d’Arras d’Haudrecy, brewer at the Brasserie du Moulin de Saint Martin

Mahaut, an Aube native, brews her own craft beer with her family at the Brasserie du Moulin de Saint Martin, located in the village of Saint Martin de Bossenay in the Nogentais. Go behind the scenes of this responsible brewery, discover its history, its values, and of course enjoy a tasting of its organic beers. “In the vicinity”, Mahaut takes you to Nogent-sur-Seine, which she particularly enjoys on market day. After a stroll along the Seine, head to the Camille Claudel Museum. For a nature break, make the most of the Étang de Monteuil.

Appointment with Manolo Rodriguez, Master glassmaker at the Bayel Crystal Museum

Manolo opens the doors of the Bayel Crystal Museum to you, there he keeps the flame of the old Royal Crystal Factory alive. Every day, he blows the glass with his mouth and shapes it by hand, an ancestral technique that has been passed down through the generations. “In the vicinity”, Manolo recommends that you visit the Clairvaux Abbey and the Cross of Lorraine for a historical journey.

Don’t miss the village of Essoyes and its cultural space dedicated to the artist Renoir, which takes you into the intimacy of his family home and, more broadly, of his life in the countryside. Conclude your visit to the Côte des Bar with a meeting with the Champagne winemakers for a sparkling stay.

Meeting with Grégory Beudot, co-manager of the Moulin de Dosches

Since 2007, this windmill has watched over the small village of Dosches and Grégory proposes tours to reveal the secrets of how this beautiful wooden structure works. Milling workshops are also offered for children and adults, and regular eventsallow visitors to enjoy the site in the evening. A real haven of peace, its gardens invite you to stroll around. “In the vicinity”, Grégory will take you to the Forêt d’Orient Regional Nature Park and its great lakes for water sports activities or to observe the animals with the family at the Espace Faune de la forêt d’Orient.

Meeting with Cécile Boël, Master glassmaker in Bérulle

Cécile Boël has set up her workshop in Bérulle, a pretty village nestled in a valley in the Pays d’Othe. Here you will discover her know-how, mainly dedicated to the restoration of old stained glass windows. It must be said that in the Aube the stained glass heritage is colossal and there is no lack of projects. She is also called upon to create more contemporary works, on commission or for a personal project.

“In the vicinity” Cécile suggests you discover the wealth of the local heritage. You can follow the Route du vitrail and visit the magnificent churches of the Pays d’Othe and Armance: Bérulle, whose stained glass windows she renovated, Ervy-le-Chatel and Chaource.
The surrounding nature invites you to go for a walk. Near the workshop, there are hiking trails leading to the Chapelle Sainte Reine and the Sentier du Fer (Iron Trail).

Meeting with Édith Royer, Sentier du Fer (Iron Trail). at the Tuilerie Royer

For more than a century, the Royer family’s tile factory has been the heartbeat of Soulaines-Dhuys, just a stone’s throw from the great lakes of Champagne. Édith and Jean-Pierre Royer maintain the tradition by shaping their pieces in the old fashioned way: that is the charm of this factory. To discover this unique place, full of history, guided tours and hands-on courses are open to all. “In the vicinity”, Edith takes you to Brienne-le-Château, to the Napoleon Museum and to meet another artisan, Manolo, at the Cristallerie Royale in Bayel,

Meeting with Hervé Raoult, Manager of the Farm “Aux Poils d’Assenay

Since 1640, the Raoult family has kept the torch burning at the farm “Aux Poils d’Assenay”, in Assenay: a unique place where woolly animals are raised. In this small farm, the alpaca is the mascot, since it was imported first from Latin America about fifty years ago. On site, Hervé, the manager, pampers his animals and knits their wool in his workshop, which he invites you to discover! In the vicinity” area, Hervé will take you to Montaigu for a nature break during a walk, andto the historic city centre of Troyes.

Meeting with Julien Viot, harvester and handler at Champagne A. Viot & Fils

Julien Viot welcomes you all year round to his family estate in Colombé-la-fosse in the Côte des Bar. He offers original activities to discover the surrounding area while enjoying a tasting of his Champagnes: food/wine pairings in the vineyards, segway rides… you can also in the estate’s gîte. “In the vicinity”, Julien suggests discovering the Niglolandamusement park (a must for families!) or practising sports activities such as mountain biking on the Champagne hillsides or kayaking from Bar sur Aube.

Meeting with Cécile Tapprest, President of the Coteaux du Landion cooperative

Cécile Tapprest introduces you to the DNA of Champagne Gaston Cheq, resulting from the work of the Coteaux du Landion cooperative, which today brings together 80 winegrowers. You will have the opportunity to taste their wines in their new reception building located in the village of Meurville at the heart of the Côte des Bar. “In the vicinity”, you can enjoy the surrounding landscapes and go for a walk on the hillsides, don’t miss the “chemin des vignerons”. A gourmet break under the historic vaulted cellars of the restaurant Le Cellier in Bar-sur-Aube is a must.