Épernay

Coordinates: 49°02′25″N 3°57′36″E / 49.0402777778°N 3.96°E / 49.0402777778; 3.96

Administration
Commune of Épernay Vineyards near Épernay
Location
Épernay
Country	France
Region	Champagne-Ardenne
Department	Marne
Arrondissement	Épernay
Intercommunality	Épernay-Pays de Champagne
Mayor	Franck Leroy
Statistics
Land area¹	22.69 km² (8.76 sq mi)
Population²	25,844 (1999)
- Density	1,139 /km² (2,950 /sq mi)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code	51230/ 51200
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
² Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Épernay is a commune in the Marne department in northern France.

1 Administration
2 History
3 Geography
4 Features
5 Economy
6 Tourism
7 Trivia
- 7.1 Births
- 7.2 Twin towns
8 See also
9 References
10 External links

Administration

Épernay is a sub-prefecture of the department and seat of an arrondissement.

History

Épernay (Sparnacum) 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.

Historical population:

1906: 20,291
1999: 25,844

Geography

Épernay is located 88 miles ENE of Paris on the main line of the Eastern railway to Strasbourg. The town is situated on the left bank of the Marne at the extremity of the pretty Cubryvalley which crosses it.

Features

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 handsome 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.

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 production of the equipment and raw materials used in the champagne industry is a major source of local employment.

Brewing and sugar refinery and the production of hats and caps, are also major industries.

Mercier Champagne vineyards in Épernay

Tourism

Épernay is a tourist-friendly town which welcome visitors from all over the world who come to buy champagne and to see how it is made. The most famous street in Épernay is the Avenue de Champagne which features the leading Champagne manufacturers.

See also near Epernay :

Château de Pierry
Château de Montmort
Château de Condé

Trivia

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (July 2008)

Épernay has tribunals of first instance and of commerce, and communal colleges for girls and boys.

Epernay is also the name of a chain of cocktail and champagne bars in the United Kingdom.