Close-up of ornate beige stone façade in Paris with carved reliefs, columns, tall windows and sculpted figures on the cornice lit by warm sunlight

DESTINATION

Champagne and city rambles

Clink your way through Champagne country with a curation of its effervescent best, intertwined with Michelin-starred menus and sartorial treasure hunting at La Vallée Village.

Day one

Stay: Royal Champagne
At this ultra-sleek contemporary retreat, nestled on the hillside above the Marne Valley, every terrace and wraparound window pulls the gaze to the vineyard-striped slopes below. Royal Champagne, 51160 Champillon

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Coffee stop: Café du Palais
The café has been an institution since 1930; its stained glass, Belle Époque tiles and shelves of curiosities barely changed over the decades. The air is rich with roasting coffee and warm brioche, while regulars settle into red banquettes. Café du Palais, 51100 Reims

Close-up of a bakery box with two square flaky pastries topped with cream and herbs, a round swirl pastry and a powdered custard tart.

Cathedral gazing: Notre-Dame de Reims
From 1027 to 1825, French kings were crowned in this pale stone Gothic masterpiece of a cathedral. Inside, coloured light from Marc Chagall’s 1974 windows washes across the vast nave. Notre-Dame de Reims, 51100 Reims

Chalk cellars: Champagne Taittinger
Deep beneath the city lie Gallo-Roman quarries carved in the fourth century, later transformed into ageing cellars. Bottles rest in long galleries, where the cool air carries a faint mineral tang. Champagne Taittinger, 51100 Reims

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Deep beneath the city lie Gallo-Roman quarries carved in the fourth century, later transformed into ageing cellars.

Lunch: Racine, 51100 Reims
In his two-Michelin-starred kitchen, chef Kazuyuki Tanaka approaches local produce – snails, pigeon, duck – with exacting Japanese technique. Six or nine courses of exquisite flavour punches one after the other. Racine, 51100 Reims

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Drive: Scenic route to Épernay
Instead of the direct D951, follow the Route Touristique du Champagne signposts and wiggle round the Montagne de Reims, through the pretty stone villages and rolling vineyards of Verzy, Bouzy and Mutigny.

Black-and-white photo of a stylish couple in sunglasses standing close outside a boutique window in La Vallee Village, woman leaning in toward the man holding a camera.

Architectural stroll: Avenue de Champagne
The grand boulevard, laid out in the nineteenth century, is lined with heavyweight neoclassical houses behind wrought-iron gates. Below ground runs a vast network of cellars, storing millions of bottles. Avenue de Champagne, 51200 Épernay

Champagne tasting: Castellane, 51200 Épernay
The bird-eye view of Épernay is well worth the 237-step climb up to the top of Castellane’s landmark 66-metre tower. And the reward afterwards is, of course, a glass of Brut Croix Rouge. *Castellane, 51200 Épernay *

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Dinner: Royal Champagne
In case you haven’t had enough, at Le Royal, chef Christophe Raoux and sommelier Philippe Marques build the Michelin-starred menu around champagne, rather than just serving it alongside. Royal Champagne, 51160 Champillon

Ornate metal lantern hanging from a stone arch in Paris, warm beige architecture against a deep navy awning and sky.

Day two

Morning wander: Old town, Meaux
Narrow medieval lanes cluster around the twelfth-century Gothic Cathédrale Saint-Étienne, while the town’s long association with Brie de Meaux adds a distinctly savoury note to the shops and markets. Old town, Meaux

Head to: La Vallée Village
The concierge-level services at La Vallée are curated to streamline the day, from Personal Shopping and Hands-free Shopping to valet parking and luggage drop-off. La Vallée Village, 77700 Serris

PLAN YOUR VISIT

The scent atelier is widely credited with defining modern niche perfumery, working with small-batch compositions and exceptional natural ingredients.

Shop: AMI Paris
Alexandre Mattiussi’s of-the-moment brand bridges streetwear and high fashion with its AMI de Cœur sweaters and evergreen wardrobe staples. *AMI Paris, La Vallée Village *

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Shop: Bompard
The Parisian maison that perfected the cashmere staple. Find exquisite fine-gauge sweaters, twin sets and scarves to cherish for seasons to come. *Bompard, La Vallée Village *

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Couple in sunglasses standing outside a boutique in La Vallee Village; woman in black floral dress, man in yellow shirt, surrounded by green shrubs.

Shop: Montblanc
It may be a serious investment piece, but once you’ve written with a Montblanc pen, it’s hard to go back. The wider accessories line runs from leather belts and watches to polished clutches and high-luxe backpacks. Montblanc, La Vallée Village

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Lunch: Wild & The Moon
A plant-forward pause for nourishing salads and cold-pressed juices. Even the pâtisseries are healthy – pick between protein bars, matcha energy balls and broccoli muffins. Wild & The Moon, La Vallée Village

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