News

Big changes planned for the capital of Champagne

27 January 2025 By Patrick Schmitt

If you head to Épernay right now, you’ll find a series of massive construction projects underway as major changes are afoot for the town, which is considered to be the capital of Champagne.

Now completed, pictured is Epernay’s new 400 space-car park under construction

For those arriving by train, you will immediately notice that the car park in front of the station has been dug up, with a view to being landscaped, although there will still be a pick-up and drop-off area for motorists and taxis.

However, the much great development is taking place five minutes’ walk from the Epernay train station, near the Avenue de Champagne – where the great maisons of the region’s Grandes Marques are situated, housing an increasing number of oenotourism facilities, from restaurants and bars to educational experiences.

At the base of this famous tree-lined Champagne street is a roundabout, which is where you will see the start of a massive new project for what is a fairly small town, home to around 20,000 people.

Already installed to one side of the roundabout is a new car park, featuring more than 400 spaces spread over six underground levels.

As you can see above and in the video below, it’s a circular design, with a separate entry and exit system, dug 30m into the ground.

Importantly, because of this new facility, not only can the train station car park be greened over, but a much larger car park, situated behind the new underground structure, called Parking Charles de Gaulle, is being removed altogether and turned into a park with avenues and a mirror pond.

It’s a huge site, covering more than a hectare that formerly provided parking for as many as 650 cars, but one that will be re-imagined as a green space.

Before: Parking Charles de Gaulle as it was before the new underground facility was completed

After: an artist’s impression of the new gardens, which are due for completion by September this year

Furthermore, at the end that is nearest the roundabout (and underground car park) will be a major new hotel from the Marriott group, which will be four floors high, with a restaurant and terrace, with views over the new gardens.

Part of its Tribute collection, the hotel will comprise around 110 rooms, along with a spa, and shops on the ground floor (see picture below).

An artist's view of Le Tribute by Marriott which is due for construction in Epernay this year — An artist’s view of Le Tribute by Marriott which is due for construction in Epernay this year

The same hotel seen from the back, from which guests will have views over the new gardens

Speaking about the development to db last week, Nathalie Doucet, president at Champagne Besserat de Bellefon, said that the new green space would be “beautiful” with a diverse collection of tree species, describing the project as “breathing new life into Epernay”.

Although works on the site are due to finish by September this year, Doucet said that she thought it was more likely that the park would be ready by early 2026, with the hotel probably opening in 2027.

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The new park will feature a mirror pool and a diverse range of tree species

Notably, she said that the balloon ride that is situated in this new development, which takes people 150m off the ground – providing panoramic views of the town and surrounding vineyards – was going to be removed.

Although a popular tourist attraction, it has suffered setbacks due to the weather, with winds causing the ride to be closed regularly, she said.

This is a shame for Champagne Besserat de Bellefon, which has recently finished its new headquarters immediately in front of the balloon, where the house now has an eighteenth-century maison featuring a bar and restaurant, as well as three suites for rent.

However, the new gardens and landscaped areas outside Besserat de Bellefon’s building will provide a more beautiful outlook than the current design, while bringing more people to this part of the town.

Another view of the new gardens, although the balloon will no longer feature in the design

The only question mark now hangs over the future of the old police station next door to Besserat de Bellefon, which has been empty for more than a year after a modern facility was constructed for Epernay’s forces on an out-of-town site.

Although the old police station is in “terrible condition” according to Doucet, it is an architecturally-important nineteenth-century stone building with a large garden at the back.

There is much interest in the site, which is going to auction soon, said Doucet, who believes it may be bought by Champagne Moët & Chandon for use as office space, as well as parking for its staff.

It’s also thought possible that the building may provide a boutique for sister brands in the Moët Hennessy stable, including its fashion division.