Musée du vin de Champagne et d'Archéologie régionale

About the museum

The museum is housed in the Château Perrier, built from 1852 to 1857 by architect Pierre-Eugène Cordier for the Perrier family of the Perrier-Jouët house. The City of Épernay acquired the château in 1943; it has been listed as a historic monument since 2013.

The collections come from three older museums: a fine arts museum (1893), a museum of prehistory and regional archaeology (1931) and a museum of wine and viticulture (1934). The combined museum opened in June 1956. It closed to the public in 1998 for safety reasons; a new scientific and cultural project was approved in 2014, and renovation work began in 2018.

The current route spans three levels and follows a common thread: chalk. It presents geology and paleontology, regional archaeology (including the Saint-Martin Treasure), the history of Champagne wine, and then the collectors and explorers of the region. Tactile models, objects to handle, tactile tables and projections complete the visit. The château grounds are open free of charge every day.

Highlights

• Geology and paleontology: the chalk subsoil of Champagne
• Regional archaeology, including the Saint-Martin Treasure
• History of Champagne wine and the harvest hall
• Collectors and explorers of the late 19th century
• Historic salons of the Château Perrier and free park

Permanent exhibitions

• Géologie et paléontologie – The chalk subsoil of Champagne and the formation of the landscape, with fossils.
• Archéologie régionale – How people settled in Champagne over time, with the Saint-Martin Treasure.
• Vin de Champagne – The history of Champagne wine, with the harvest hall.

Founded

1956

Operated by

Ville d'Épernay

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of each month

The audio guide is included in the ticket. Free of charge with proof and under conditions: job seekers, holders of the Pass Épernay or Pass Reims-Épernay, journalists, tour guides, ICOM members, group leaders and patrons. Reduced rate of €6.50 with a ticket from a partner institution dated no more than 7 days earlier.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description

The route includes 26 models, among them 8 tactile models for blind and visually impaired visitors, as well as objects, reproductions and material samples to touch. The audio guide is also available with audio description, in French Sign Language and in easy-to-read French. The website provides no information on wheelchair access.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Workshops for young audiences (ages 6 to 12), family workshops (from age 8), “a-musée-vous” visits (from age 8), P'tits bouchons visits (ages 3 to 6) and Muséobébé (18 months to 3 years). The route offers objects and reproductions to handle, educational games and tactile tables. Bookings: +33 3 26 55 03 56 or developpementpublics.musee@ville-epernay.fr.

Getting there & parking

Museum entrance in the château courtyard, 13 avenue de Champagne; park entrance via the Parking des Arts, rue de Reims. On foot: tourist office 5 minutes away, city center 8 minutes away.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop (more than 500 items: books, stationery, wine accessories, children's products, local products).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 2,000 guests.

Historic ground-floor salons (large salon, small salon, billiard room), park and courtyard (up to 2,000 people), vaulted cellar (up to 199 people, only when the museum is closed) and temporary exhibition rooms in the east pavilion (up to 55 people, outside exhibition periods). General meetings, press conferences, receptions and film shoots.

Plan your visit