Épernay


Épernay is a commune in the Marne department of northern France, 130 km north-east of Paris on the mainline railway to Strasbourg. The town sits on the left bank of the Marne at the extremity of the Cubry valley which crosses it.
Épernay is a sub-prefecture of the department and seat of an arrondissement.
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History

Épernay belonged to the archbishops of Reims from the 5th until the 10th century, when it came into the possession of the counts of Champagne. It was badly damaged during the Hundred Years' War, and was burned by Francis I in 1544. It resisted Henry of Navarre in 1592, and Marshal Biron fell in the attack which preceded its eventual capture. In 1642 it was, along with Château-Thierry, named as a duchy and assigned to the duc de Bouillon.

French Revolution and Empire

During the French Revolution, Epernay became the capital of the canton and district of Épernay.
In 1800, it became the subprefecture of the arrondissement of Épernay.
During the French Campaign, the town suffered devastation at the hands of the coalition armies.
After the fall of the Empire, Épernay entered a period of calm, which allowed it to focus on its organization and its facilities.
On December 26, 1846, gas street lighting was installed.
The Meaux-Épernay section of the Paris-Strasbourg railway line was inaugurated on September 2, 1849, by Prince-President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte.

Contemporary period

With the Franco-Prussian War 1870/71, the territory was occupied by Prussians troops on 8 September and numerous restrictions were put in place, such as the ban on hunting. The railway line between Épernay and Romilly-sur-Seine was inaugurated. 1 November 1872 marked the end of the occupation.
Then the town grew. In 1900, the first power station was built, modernised in 1912 to supply alternating current. By 1934, it was no longer able to meet demand.
On 27 July 1903, the town was connected to Montmirail by the C.B.R. railway, then to Ambonnay on 8 April 1904, enabling travel to Reims or Châlons.
During the First World War, two-thirds of the town was destroyed. During the retreat from the Marne, from 4 to 11 September 1914, it was occupied by the German army, which blew up the Marne bridge during its retreat.
It subsequently became a rear-front town, as the front stabilised from late 1914 to May 1918 around Reims, 35 km to the north. As such, it was a transit point for the large numbers of troops stationed there, and Épernay became an important hospital centre. Its proximity to the front line meant that it was bombed many times, especially from 1917 onwards, and there were fears that it would fall into enemy hands during the German offensive in May 1918.

Main sights

In the central and oldest quarter of the town, the streets are narrow and irregular; the surrounding suburbs, however, are modern and more spacious, with La Folie to the East, for example, containing many villas belonging to rich wine merchants. The town has also spread to the right bank of the Marne.
One of its churches retains a portal and stained-glass windows from the 16th century, but the other public buildings are of modern construction. The most famous street in Épernay is the Avenue de Champagne which features the leading Champagne manufacturers.
Other sights outside the town include:

Economy

Épernay is best known as the principal "entrepôt" for champagne wines, which are bottled and kept in large cellars built into the chalk rock on which the town is built. The major grape varieties used in champagne are the pinot noir, the pinot meunier and the chardonnay. The production of the equipment and raw materials used in the champagne industry is a major source of local employment. Champagne Pannier, among others, was established in Épernay before moving to Château-Thierry in 1937. Brewing and sugar refinery and the production of hats and caps, are also major industries.
Épernay station has rail connections to Paris, Strasbourg, Reims, Metz, Nancy and several regional destinations.
The nearest airport is Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport, which is located west of Épernay.

Notable people

Épernay was the birthplace of:
Épernay was the final resting place of:

Twin towns — sister cities

Épernay is twinned with: