Franche Comte Champagne Ardenne

Sharing a border with Switzerland, the Franche-Comté has plenty of natural beauty and a rich history.

With stunning mountains, vast parks and dense woodlands, there are countless leisure and sporting activities that will keep the whole family busy for your entire trip.

Champagne-Ardenne is famous worldwide for its sparkling wine which is still produced using traditional methods its small historical towns and cities. Nature lovers will enjoy immersing themselves in the rolling landscapes, immense forests, deep gorges and vast rivers.

This is the perfect environment to take time out from modern life, relax by the picturesque lakes, take a leisurely stroll through the towns and cities and sample the locally produced cheeses along the way.

Major towns and cities

• Belfort – enjoys a prime location at the foot of the Vosges mountains
• Besançon – the capital and principal city of the region
• Lons-le-Saunier – famous for its salt wells, also known as the city of salt
• Vesoul – an old medieval town built on top of the hill de la Motte
• Reims – a modern and lively former capital, that keeps hold of its traditions
• Chalons-en-Champagne – the city owes its name to the Gallic people of Chalons
• Sedan – at the heart of the city, discover the Giant of Sedan, a fortress built nearly 600 years ago
• Chaumont – built around a 10th-century castle overlooking the Suize and Marne valley

Regional attractions

• Musee de l’Aventure Peugeot – discover more about this famous car manufacturer
• Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans – see the history of salt production and lives of the workers
• Reculee de Baume les Messieurs – quaint village in a picturesque valley
• La Citadelle de Besançon – contains an historic fort and modern zoo to explore
• Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims– religious site with imposing sculptures
• Towers of Reims Cathedral – take a trip to the top to view the amazing architecture
• Maison de L’Outil – museum specializing in extinct trades and tools
• Palais du Tau – former palace of the Bishops of Reims