Cumières: Champagne Viticulture and Local History

Champagne viticulture, local history and experiences on the Marne shape the visitor attractions in Cumières. You can choose between insights into traditional working methods, museum objects and tasting experiences, as well as activities on the water, on foot, by bicycle or by bus. Your choice mainly depends on whether you want to explore production and history in greater depth or choose different ways of getting around.

Viticulture at the Jardin de Vignes

The Jardin de Vignes de Cumières is located on Quai de la Marne, 51480 Cumières, and runs along the Marne. In eight scenes, it presents traditional stages of Champagne viticulture. The scenes span the process from pruning the vines to Champagne tasting. Information panels in the garden describe how Champagne is made. The scenes and panels thus offer two ways to explore the same subject: a sequence of illustrated working methods and descriptions of the production process.

Vineyards cover 160 hectares and occupy most of the municipal area.

Tools and local history

The Musée du travail du Champagne et de la vigne displays tools more than a century old, which tell the story of Champagne wine and work in the vineyards. The museum offers guided tours. Unlike the Jardin de Vignes, where the eight scenes focus on working methods, the museum places historical tools at the centre. For six centuries, the history of Cumières was linked to Hautvillers.

Tours, tastings and seasonal walks

Champagne Gabriel Boutet offers tours for small groups. They explore the history of the house since the mid-1860s, its terroir and Champagne production. There are also tasting workshops for beginners and introductory sessions, as well as pairings of Champagne with food or chocolate. The formats have different focuses: tours cover the history of the house, terroir and production; workshops focus on flavours and pairings. In season, Champagne Gabriel Boutet also offers biodiversity discovery walks along the river or through the vineyards with a botanist. As these walks are seasonal, it is advisable to check the dates before your trip.

The Marne and routes through the vineyards

Bateau Champagne Vallée offers cruises on the Marne. As a paddle steamer, it provides panoramic views of the Marne Valley. L’Impériale de Marie-Antoinette offers a bus tour to discover Champagne. The two formats offer different perspectives: the cruise provides views of the Marne Valley from the water, while the bus tour is an exploration of Champagne. For both trips, check the current operating arrangements before your journey.

Signposting makes it easier to hike on foot or cycle through the vineyards from Cumières to the forest.

Discover more destinations: Louvois, Broyes, Warmeriville, Connantre, Fontaine-En-Dormois, Villiers-Aux-Corneilles, Gueux, Hautvillers

For the main travel overview: Marne.