Royal Champagne Hotel in the Champagne Region

The Royal Champagne hotel stands high on the hill overlooking the rolling slopes of the Champagne region’s great vineyards. The white-washed hotel is a landmark, once a coaching inn, now a grand hotel, appreciated by the likes of Napoleon who was a regular visitor on his way to nearby Reims. In 1983, Elizabeth, the Queen Mother dropped by and clearly had a good time, if the photographs in the entrance are anything to go by. The hotel was bought in 2003 from the then owners, LVMH, by the Italian Baglioni Hotel group and refurbished in style, with warm colours, pretty fabrics and large chairs and sofas, just the comfortable side of grand.

The Royal Champagne hotel makes a perfect base for visiting the vineyards and touring the small pretty surrounding villages. The nearby capital of the Champagne region, Epernay, is centered around the production of Champagne, worth visiting for tours and tastings at houses like Moët & Chandon and Mercier. The hotel is surrounded by the great names of Champagne: Moët & Chandon, Bollinger, Krug, Mumm, Veuve Cliquot, Taittinger, Laurent Perrier and Dom Perignon, the house named after the Benedictine monk who lived from 1638-1715 and was responsible for the vast improvement of wine (but not for the invention of Champagne). The illustrious monk is buried in the pretty church in the next door village of Hautvilliers, well worth a trip.

As you walk into the white-washed hotel, you get the feeling of stepping into a much-loved, comfortably grand home. A series of public rooms, all different sizes and shapes run off the entrance hall, where you must start with a glass of the local Champagne, Autréau. The staff are charming, welcoming and very professional.

All 28 bedrooms are in a modern curving building a few steps away from the main house. They vary in size and décor; all have a small separate lobby as you go in, adding to the sense of privacy. Most of the rooms are traditionally – and very stylishly – decorated, but there are more contemporary rooms including one with a curved paneled wooden wall and a Scandinavian feel.

Number 29 where we stayed (there is no number 13), a large room with a spacious terrace and spectacular views, was delightful with its half tester bed setting the regal tone, decorated in cool beige and chocolate browns, lavish fabrics and curtains.

There's also a family suite, with its own front door, two separate bedrooms and bathrooms and a large terrace.

Address: Bellevue, 51160 Champillon, Marne
Telephone: 00 33 (0)3 26 52 87 11
www.royalchampagne.com
Email:reservations@royalchampagne.com
Relais & Chateaux Member
Price Band: $$$-$$$$ What this means
Extras: Cooking classes, golf (25km), boat trips, Champagne cellar tours, biking, hiking, riding, fishing
Closed: December to March

Next: Read a Review of the Restaurant at the Royal Champagne Hotel

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodation for the purpose of reviewing the property. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.