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Champagne (province)

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Champagne is a famous place in northeast France.

1771 Bonne Map of Brie and Champagne, France - Geographicus - Champagne-bonne-1771
1771 Bonne Map of Brie and Champagne, France - Geographicus - Champagne-bonne-1771

Most people know it for its sparkling white wine. This wine carries the name of the region. The land is located about 160 km east of Paris. It sits in a part of the country once called the Kingdom of France. Today, it is part of a large region called Grand Est.

1771 Bonne Map of Brie and Champagne, France - Geographicus - Champagne-bonne-1771
1771 Bonne Map of Brie and Champagne, France - Geographicus - Champagne-bonne-1771

The name Champagne tells us about the land. It comes from a French word meaning "open country." This name describes a place good for military moves. It also comes from a Latin word for a "level country." The area is a vast, flat landscape. Much of the ground is lined with white chalk. This flat shape is what the name describes.

1771 Bonne Map of Brie and Champagne, France - Geographicus - Champagne-bonne-1771
1771 Bonne Map of Brie and Champagne, France - Geographicus - Champagne-bonne-1771

Long ago, this area was a very important place. In the High Middle Ages, it held the Champagne fairs. These fairs were huge for the economy of Western societies. The land was once ruled by the counts of Champagne. These leaders were highly respected by the French aristocracy. Some counts even became French kings.

1771 Bonne Map of Brie and Champagne, France - Geographicus - Champagne-bonne-1771
1771 Bonne Map of Brie and Champagne, France - Geographicus - Champagne-bonne-1771

History changed for the region in the year 1314. This was when the area passed to the French crown. Louis I was the king of Navarre and the count of Champagne. He became the king of France as Louis X. A famous writer named Chrétien de Troyes also lived here. He wrote stories about the Round Table and Arthurian legends. These stories are part of chivalric romance.

1771 Bonne Map of Brie and Champagne, France - Geographicus - Champagne-bonne-1771
1771 Bonne Map of Brie and Champagne, France - Geographicus - Champagne-bonne-1771

There are many important cities in this area. Troyes, Reims, and Épernay are major centers for trade. In 1956, most of the land became part of Champagne-Ardenne. This region had four parts called departments. These were Ardennes, Aube, Haute-Marne, and Marne. On January 1, 2016, it joined with Alsace and Lorraine. Now, all these places make up the Grand Est region.

1771 Bonne Map of Brie and Champagne, France - Geographicus - Champagne-bonne-1771
1771 Bonne Map of Brie and Champagne, France - Geographicus - Champagne-bonne-1771
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