Prunay: Gliding and Village History

Prunay is a village on the Champagne plain at the foot of the Montagne de Reims. There are several different ways to plan your trip: gliding, walking or cycling routes, and local history reflected in the church windows and bells. If you are looking for a hotel in Prunay, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: a flight experience, a village walk or local history each offers a different perspective.

The Church and Village History

Prunay’s ecclesiastical heritage includes stained-glass windows from the De Troeyer workshop in Reims. The windows were made in the 1930s; the De Troeyer workshop in Reims was established in 1920 under Léopold. These provide two distinct historical reference points: the founding of the workshop and the later creation of the windows in Prunay. The church bells are also part of the village’s history. They were lost during the First World War, later found again and reinstalled in the present-day church during the reconstruction of the village. The windows and bells offer different historical perspectives: for the windows, their origin and date of creation matter; for the bells, the sequence of their loss, rediscovery and reinstallation.

Gliding and Introductory Flights

Reims Planeur is a club based at Reims Prunay Aerodrome. The club offers introductory gliding flights lasting around 20 to 30 minutes; the duration depends on weather conditions. The flight takes place in a two-seat glider or a motor glider. An experienced pilot accompanies the passenger and explains the basics of flying and aerology. Aerology is the science of the atmosphere, adding a separate subject area to the fundamentals of flight.

As an alternative introduction, Aéroclub Reims CRNA-EST offers introductory flights as a first piloting lesson with a qualified flight instructor. This includes a briefing and 30 minutes of practical flying, during which the instructor guides participants. The distinction matters when planning: for Reims Planeur, the weather-dependent duration refers to the introductory flight; at the Aéroclub, 30 minutes of practical flying are provided in addition to the briefing. As availability may change, check with the Aéroclub before making plans.

Walks and Routes

There are several routes in and around Prunay for walks and more strenuous hikes on foot or by bicycle. Walking routes for Prunay are linked through Visorando, and a village walk is also linked through Tourisme en Champagne. A village walk focuses on the village itself, while the other routes cater to walking, more strenuous hiking or cycling.

Location for Planning

Aéroport Reims en Champagne has the postal address 51360 Prunay, France.

Discover more destinations: Baslieux-Châtillon, Saint-Gilles, Gueux, Vandières, Chalons En Champagne, Chouilly, Rieux, Lavannes

For the broader travel overview: Marne.