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Let’s face it; if there’s ever one thing that’ll draw you to the Champagne-Ardenne region, it’s the sparkling stuff. Of course, there’s more to this part of France than the bubbly. Here’s our roundup of the best things to do there this year.

‘Rêve de Couleurs’ Sound & Light show in Reims

  • June through September (free event)

In honor of Reims Cathedral’s 800-year anniversary in 2011, a high-tech show was set up that pays homage to the 33 state coronations held here. The show proved so popular that locals decided to run it every summer. See www.cathdraldereims.fr for timings and other event information.

Flâneries Musicales d’été in Reims in Reims

  • June and July, 2013

Translated as musical summer strolls, this two-month festival sees more than 100 performances ranging from classical to jazz staged in heritage sites, cafes and parks. Many are free to attend.

Champagne Route Festival in Celles-sur-Ources 

  • July 27-28, 2013

Okay, so this one is clearly champagne oriented, but we could hardly leave it out. Purchase the festival’s €10 champagne flute and gain access to a large number of participating wineries. As well as champagne tastings, there are all sorts of street entertainment, gourmet lunches and exhibitions on offer.

Cheese Fair in Bar-sur-Aube

  • June 8, 2013

A celebration of French cheese, the fair offers tastings of cheese, bread and wine sourced from all over the country.

Sedan Medieval Festival 

  • May 18-19, 2013

This riot of color, costumes, music, reenactments and medieval pageantry celebrates the feudal history of the largest fortified castle in Europe. The feasts, markets, jousting and torch-lit tours hosted by Sedan’s Le Château Fort draw more than 40,000 visitors every year.

Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…

(Image: Steve-©-foto)

About the author

Brett AckroydBrett hopes to one day reach the shores of far-flung Tristan da Cunha, the most remote of all the inhabited archipelagos on Earth…as to what he’ll do when he gets there, he hasn’t a clue. Over the last 10 years, London, New York, Cape Town and Pondicherry have all proudly been referred to as home. Now it’s Copenhagen’s turn, where he lends his travel expertise to momondo.com.

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