Champagne : paysages

Between Reims to the north and the town of Épernay to the south is a part of the old province of Champagne called la montagne de Reims. It's not really a mountain except in contrast with the wide plains stretching out all around it. It tops out at 287 meters (940 feet) of elevation. The "mountain" and parts of the plain around it were designated as a Parc naturel régional in 1976. It covers 500 km² (about 200 mi²) and one third of it is hardwood forestland, with a lot of oaks. Much of the rest is vineyards. As you can see in my photos, it's "big sky country."

    

Above is the village of Bouzy, where we spent a week in October 2011. The village includes 930 acres of vineyards, planted mostly in Pinot Noir grapes but partly in Chardonnay as well.