Epernay (France)

Epernay is a Marne River (Seine River) cruise port and town in France's Marne department, with population around 25,000. The town is located approx 130 km (80 mi) northeast of Paris City and also on the main high-speed railway (LGV Est) linking to Strasbourg. Marne River (an eastern tributary of Seine River) has length approx 514 km (319 mi) and flows through four French departments (Haute-Marne, Marne, Seine-et-Marne, Val-de-Marne).

In the period 5th-10th-centuries, the town (as Sparnacum) belonged to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Reims (Roman Catholic Church). In the 10th-century it went into the possession of the Count of Champagne (950-1316, rulers of France's Champagne region). The town suffered severe damages during the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453, between England and France) and was burned in 1544 by King Francis I of France (1494-1547).

Epernay is France's principal transshipment port for champagne wines. The premium wines are bottled and stored in the town (in large in-rock-built cellars). The Champagne industry, together with brewing, sugar refining and hats and caps production are current-day town's main industries. Best-known tourist attractions include downtown's narrow and irregular streets, modern-designed villas (owned by rich local wine merchants), Avenue de Champagne (street lined with the shops of France's largest Champagne wine manufacturers), beautiful manor houses/chateaus (the largest of which are Pierry, Montmort, Conde).

As cruise port, Epernay is included in the regular schedule of one of Europe's largest river cruise companies - CroisiEurope. Next table shows the ports sequence of CroisiEurope's 6-day cruisetour itinerary between homeports Epernay and Paris, with prices from ~USD 2000 per person (double occupancy cabin rates). The itinerary is operated by the 2014-built luxury hotel-barge ship Raymonde.