France
A dose of nature and the city of Reims
A refreshing walk in nature and lunch in the city of Reims.
Nature walk near Reims
After a slow start with breakfast at the chateau, check out and drive towards the town of Sermiers. From there, you can start an easy walk to the Parc Naturel Régional de la Montagne de Reims. You'll pass by rows of vineyards before entering the park and finding yourself surrounded by the forest, which is home to several 'remarkable trees'. There's many marked hiking paths you can follow, and we went for a short 2-hour walk, past two large ponds where we encountered some local fisherman. Hiking might not be the first thing on your mind when visiting the champagne region, but it's definitely a great activity for a lovely Sunday!
Lunch in Reims
Hiking works up the appetite, so on our way back towards Belgium, we stopped in Reims for a late lunch and chose one of the many outdoor terraces, so we could enjoy the sun (and some people-watching).
Family & champagne
Last stop of the weekend was a personal one. I actually have distant relatives who produce their own champagne, still bearing our shared last name. As a kid, we used to visit once a year and I even stayed longer three times to help with the vendange (yearly picking of the grapes) in my late teens and twenties. Now, all the connecting members (3 generations ago) have sadly passed away, but we are still considered family. So when we drove up, we were welcomed by gathered family, two freshly baked pies, cold bubbles and lots of laughter and shared memories. The perfect end to a wonderful weekend.
