Enjoy this escape to a fabulous, must-see location from Mona’s recent trip to Champagne.
Perched high above rolling vineyards, The Royal Champagne is the summum of luxperience!
On the program: Michelin-starred dining, an expansive spa in partnership with the cult-favorite Biologique Recherche, and a dedicated Champagne Concierge who can arrange exclusive tastings at the many nearby Champagne houses.
Located right in the middle of the vineyards that dominate the hills of Epernay, Champillon and the historic village of Hautvillers, the cradle of Champagne, and Dom Pérignon’s home, Le Royal Champagne is an inescapable destination that offers one of Champagne’s most enviable & sweeping landscapes overlooking the Vallée de la Marne.
La Bellevue, on the hotel’s rooftop it is a “must do“. Not a “should do” or anything else with try or could or maybe.
You MUST go up top to La Bellevue Restaurant & Bar to enjoy a glass of champagne while taking in the breathtaking panoramic view of the UNESCO World Heritage surroundings. The imperial terrasse spans the entire width of the building nearly providing a 360-degree experience.
Anywhere you sit you’ll be able to bask in the magnificence of the scenery.
I highly recommend going late afternoon & delight in the beauty of the sunset while sipping some exquisite champagnes – it’s quite a spellbinding moment.
The contemporary luxury hotel sits on a former 19th century Relais de Poste (coaching inn) where Napoléon Bonaparte would stop on his return from the battlefields. The Relais de Poste was a vital part of Europe’s transportation system providing a much-needed resting point for travelers & horses.
Right on time! 2021 marks the Year of Napoléon. Accordingly, in honor of the bicentennial of Napoléon Bonaparte’s death, Le Royal Champagne is partnering with Empress Josephine’s official jeweler, Maison Chaumet, to unlock exclusive access to a rare exhibition at the grand salon at 12 Vendome in Paris.
In fact, the boutique hotel pays homage to Napoléon throughout its design and décor. I’m not sure about the gentlemen’s restroom, but if you go into the Ladies’ room at La Bellevue and look up above you, you’ll see the amazing ceiling dedicated to Joséphine (& Napoléon).
Rémois architect, Giovanni Pace has designed the property in the style of a contemporary amphitheatre, incorporating the original 19th Century Post House. Giovanni Pace is known for his work at the renowned champagne house of Moët & Chandon and more recently Champagne Janisson & fils.
I enjoyed a glass of Pascal Doquet Diapason Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs & l’Atavique by Mouzon-Leroux (which you can now find at Bevmo in the US).
As we say in French: Une déstination incontournable 🍾
And what I even love the most about the hotel is that it is owned by Denise Dupré and her husband Mark Nunnelly.
The Franco-American couple also own the biodynamic Champagne house Leclerc Briant. Leclerc Briant is known for its innovative aging methods, which feature clay amphorae, a 24-carat gold barrel, and a cuvée aged in bottle 60m deep in the Atlantic Ocean, off the Breton island of Ouessan.
Dupré is also the founder & managing partner of Champagne Hospitality, a hotel design and development company.
She and her teams at two properties, The Royal Champagne and Le Barthélemy, recently won a “Conde Nast #1” ranking in their regions: in Europe and the Caribbean.
