Chaumuzy

Location

Chaumuzy lies in the west of the Marne département, in the valley of the Ardre and within the Montagne de Reims regional nature park. In terms of landscape, the commune belongs to the Tardenois. The village is around 19 kilometres by road from Reims, and the prefecture, Châlons-en-Champagne, is about 60 kilometres away. The commune covers 1,994 hectares and rises from 111 to 264 metres above sea level. Above the village, the vineyards and the Bois d'Éclisse rise to the west, the Bois de Rouvroy to the north-east and the Bois de Courton to the south.

The climate is oceanic. The average annual temperature is around 10.7 degrees, and about 734 millimetres of rain fall each year. For viticulture, that means a cool setting in which site and aspect matter a great deal.

Viticulture

In Chaumuzy, 82 hectares are planted with vines in the Champagne appellation, mostly with Pinot Meunier. That suits the Ardre valley, where this robust grape variety does well. The village has no Grand Cru or Premier Cru classification. Anyone looking for champagne here will therefore tend to find growers away from the big names and the famous sites.

“Chaumuzy is a rural place with scattered buildings and 345 inhabitants (2023).HistoryThe village belonged to the estates of the Archbishops of Reims.

The vines make up only a small part of the land. Around 44 per cent of the commune is woodland and a good 45 per cent is arable land, while permanent crops account for just under 5 per cent. Chaumuzy is a rural place with scattered buildings and 345 inhabitants (2023).

History

The village belonged to the estates of the Archbishops of Reims. It goes back to a gift from Gimolad, the mayor of the palace of Austrasia (642 to 656), to Nivard of Reims. On the edge of the forest of Saint-Thierry, it marked a crossroads and the boundary of the archbishops' lands. The village is linked with Saint Remigius through a miracle during his lifetime and through a stopping point for his relics when they were brought back from Orbais after 883.

Binet Champagner stamp

In the First World War, the great tower and the village church were destroyed. A memorial commemorates the Italian soldiers who served here during that time.

Sights

• Church of Saint-Cancien: its origins go back to the 13th century, and it was extended in the 19th century.
• Memorial to the Italian soldiers of the First World War.
• Vineyards and woods around the village, a good starting point for walks in the nature park.

Neighbouring communes include Bligny, Marfaux and Romigny. If you want to explore the area, Chaumuzy combines well with a visit to Reims.