Mutigny

Location

Mutigny lies about five kilometres north-east of Épernay and some 21 kilometres south of Reims, on the southern slope of the Montagne de Reims in the Marne département. Its neighbouring communes include Saint-Imoges, Germaine, Avenay-Val-d'Or and Aÿ-Champagne. Administratively, the village belongs to the arrondissement of Épernay and the canton of Épernay-1. On 1 January 2023 it had 212 inhabitants, known as Mutignats.

The village sits on a spur at an altitude of around 240 metres, framed by vines and woodland. That makes it one of the better viewpoints in the area.

Viticulture

Mutigny is classified as Premier Cru. The Montagne de Reims is generally regarded as the home of powerful champagnes shaped by Pinot Noir. Visitors can see for themselves how much winegrowing dominates the landscape: according to the 2018 Corine Land Cover data, around 68 per cent of the commune's area is woodland and just over 31 per cent is permanent crops, mainly vineyards.

“On 1 January 2023 it had 212 inhabitants, known as Mutignats.The village sits on a spur at an altitude of around 240 metres, framed by vines and woodland.

The sloping terrain has its downside, though. The Montagne de Reims is prone to landslides. On the plot known as Les Charnières, major landslips occurred in 1988 and 2000, spreading downhill towards Aÿ.

The view from Mutigny

From the church, a panorama opens up that feels almost like a map for champagne lovers. Among the things you can see are:

• the Marne valley
• the Côte des Noirs and the Côte des Blancs
• Épernay and its surroundings
• the plain of Châlons
• the Mont-Aigu, the Mont Bernon above Épernay and the Mont-Aimé above Vertus

By local count, on a clear day you can make out 45 village church towers, including those of famous grand cru villages. The final point on the horizon is Notre-Dame de l'Épine, about 15 kilometres from Châlons-en-Champagne.

Besserat de Bellefon Champagner

Name and history

The place name is recorded in the 9th century as Mutiniacus. It goes back to Gallo-Roman roots and derives from the Latin personal name Muttinius. The often-repeated interpretation as "fire mountain" (Mons Ignis), on the other hand, is considered unfounded. It is charming all the same: the commune has named its own cuvée "Mondefeu".

Sights

• Church of Saint-Martin, dating from the 15th century
• Manor house of Montflambert

Mutigny makes a good detour if you would like to experience the vineyards above Épernay and Aÿ in peace and with far-reaching views. Its position away from the main roads and its small size make it a typical little winegrowing village of Champagne.