TRAVEL
and their households called the Familistère home. The enterprise thrived until the 1960’s when some of the flats became private and others were left derelict. In 1991 it was classified as an historic monument and today it’s a living museum. Comprehensive tours cover the residential blocks, Godin’s own apartment, theatre, laundry, and pool. Vineyards in the south of Aisne mark the beginning of the Champagne region, with small independent producers rubbing shoulders with their larger competitors. In Château-Thierry, the cellars of the Champagne Pannier sit in stone quarries dating back to the 12th century. As Almost 70% of the city’s buildings were also destroyed but were rebuilt after the war in the Art Deco style. While the Town Hall has a flamboyant Gothic façade, inside well as all the bottles, there’s a carving of an archer etched into the wall. It was only discovered in 1990 and is now the symbol of this prestigious brand. Champagne Méteyer, in nearby Trélou-Sur-Marne, has been in the same family for 6 generations since 1860. Franck and his wife Anna continue the tradition and she’ll give you a personal guided tasting in the cellar. After that she’ll whisk you away to their vineyards in her vintage Citroën Dyane. Gazing over her parcels of vines, sipping a glass of her famous bubbly, there’s nothing not to like. EC From thetravelmagazine.net the council chamber and wedding hall are distinctively Art Deco.
THIS PAGE FROM TOP Laon Cathedral Interior; Saint Quentin Lake; Saint-Quentin-Lake OPPOSIT PAGE Saint-Jean-des- Vignes Abbey in Soissons, Aisne — a historic gem nestled in the Grand-Est region of France.
60
EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025
Made with FlippingBook Proposal Creator