 The Champagne-Ardennes region is famous for one thing - champagne! But, despite the attention that this bottled export has brought to the region, the Champagne-Ardennes remains relatively undiscovered, and is often not a first choice of location in which to buy French property. For those who do venture off the wine-trails the Champagne-Ardennes offers dramatic landscapes, historic villages and seductive cities. There is even a growing demand for tourist accommodation in some areas - a great opportunity if you're looking to buy Champagne-Ardennes property with rental potential.
The climate in Champagne-Ardennes is very much what you would expect in a wine-growing region. The summers are long and hot and are punctuated only by occasional showers. During the short winter, the weather is often cold and dry, most of the annual rainfall confining itself to the spring and autumn months.
Four French departments make up the region of Champagne-Ardennes. In the south of the region is Haute Marne, through which the Canal de la Marne a la Saone traverses, and the hilly department of Aube. To the north are Marne and Ardennes, the latter department bordering Belgium in the Northeast of France.
Marne is the only department where traditional champagne is produced. The soils and climate come together in a swathe of land that takes in Reims, Chalons-en-Champagne and Epernay. The land here is quite hilly in places, making for a spectacular backdrop to this most famous of wine-producing areas.
Reims itself is a truly delightful city. Known as the City of Champagne, it is packed with historical and cultural treasures worthy of its nametag. The impressive Notre-Dame Cathedral, Tau Palace and Saint Remi Basilica can be found in Reims, while on the streets spectacular fountains and modern architectural wonders endear the city to all who visit it.
Sedan in the department of Ardennes is another city that has much to offer prospective French property buyers. Overlooked by the 15th century castle - the largest feudal fortress in Europe - this medieval city is a maze of eloquently paved streets and centuries-old properties with pastel coloured facades. Sedan has of late become increasingly popular with tourists, most notably because of the area's outstanding natural beauty. The mountains of the Ardennes are close by to Sedan, and the city also holds many festivities - one of the most popular being the Medieval Festival in May each year. If you're looking to invest in Champagne-Ardennes property with a view to obtaining rental income, then Sedan and its surrounding area is certainly worth consideration. Property prices are quite low too in this area, a 3-bed villa in France 10 minutes from Sedan costing less than 140,000 euros.
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