accommodation in champagne region
 

we will be 4 adults staying in the champagne region for one week in early May 2009, would like some ideas about accommodation, cottage or lux type, we will be hiring a car to trip around so are flexible on the site

thanks

Take a look at the Château de Fère, near Fère en Tardenois. It's a marvelously atmospheric and comfortable place to stay in a beautiful area. The town itself has a fine old market square with timbered buildings, and the château itself has the ruins of fortifications on the property. Try for one of the large rooms facing the front.

The restaurant is quite good, too.

Chateau d'Etoges is a beautiful, atmospheric hotel with an excellent restaurant.

http://www.chateau-etoges.com/

If you want to go really upscale, both in terms of accomodation and food (Michelin star) then this is the place:

http://www.relaischateaux.com/fr/sea...t/briqueterie/

Or this:



http://www.lescrayeres.com/

Ten years ago I stayed inL'Epine at Aux Armes de Champagne. I thought it was very good, particularly the dinner.

Recent posts on TravelAdvisor have been negative so I'm reluctant to recommend it because it has been so long since I was there. However, the basilica in L'Epine is worth seeing if you are in the area.

We were given invitations to tours of two of the champagne houses by the hotel. Not sure how it's done now but I would check ahead of time with the houses you're interested in touring.