Hautvillers church and the private abbey
Hautvillers is a village near Épernay where a church visit and views of the surrounding vineyards make a useful counterpart to the city’s cellars. Saint-Sindulphe church contains the tomb of Dom Pierre Pérignon and is open to the public. The neighbouring Saint-Pierre abbey is private property, so a visit to the village should be planned around the church rather than entry to the abbey buildings.
For the winter period from 1 November 2026 to 28 February 2027, Saint-Sindulphe opens daily from 09:00 to 16:00, except on 25 December 2026 and 1 January 2027, when it is closed. Church entry is free. Religious use takes priority over sightseeing; leave room in the day to adjust a visit around a service rather than arriving just before closing.
Combine the village with the Avenue de Champagne if the contrast between wine production and trade interests you. The Avenue presents the urban side of Champagne, while Hautvillers puts the vineyard setting and monastic history into view.
Wine history without the invention story
Hautvillers is associated with Dom Pérignon’s work on wine quality and blending, rather than a single person inventing Champagne. The abbey’s foundation is placed around 650, and Dom Pérignon arrived in 1668, remaining until his death in 1715. His connection with the village is substantial without turning a complex history into a discovery legend.
Read the church and vineyards as different parts of that story. The church is a historical building and place of worship; the surrounding vines are a working agricultural landscape. A tasting, a church visit and access to a producer’s premises are separate activities. Choose a booked visit for the wine-making element instead of treating the whole village as an open museum.
A visit via Hautvillers
This day trip from Reims includes a stop in Hautvillers and visits to family estates.
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A Reims day trip with a Hautvillers stop
The eight-hour outing starts in Reims and includes Hautvillers, the Avenue de Champagne, three family estates and a main-course lunch.
Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs
Hautvillers can be part of a wider look at the vineyard landscapes around Épernay, including the Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs. The Marne valley has vineyards on both sides of the river; Pinot noir is more prominent towards Épernay, with Meunier increasingly important westwards. Chardonnay characterises the Côte des Blancs. These are regional tendencies, rather than a promise that every parcel contains the same grape.
The organised outing featured here departs from the tourist office at Reims station, with an alternative station meeting point on certain Sundays. Its eight-hour programme includes a stop in Hautvillers, a passage through the Avenue de Champagne, tastings at three family estates and a restaurant main course. Paris train tickets are extra. See tours from Reims for the departure arrangements.
Getting to Hautvillers and planning the return
Hautvillers needs its own outward and return travel plan from Épernay. Arrange transport around the church opening window and any booked producer visit, and check the actual village stops and last return when considering public transport. A town bus route serving central Épernay should not be treated as a village connection.
A guided day starting in Reims suits visitors who want transport between the scheduled stops. Independent visitors can instead organise a car or prearranged ride and keep their village visit separate from a tasting appointment. The arrival guide explains the rail gateways, while accommodation areas helps with choosing a town or village base.
Paths, private plots and other vineyard villages
Hautvillers vineyard walks belong on paths, with signed restrictions and private plots respected. Avoid shortcuts through rows and leave grapes on the vines. In the wider Montagne de Reims, the 2026 park guide highlights possible organised hunts in individual woods from September to February, so follow local signs and the relevant calendar for a woodland extension.
Cumières and Dizy offer other village bases, while the Côte des Blancs provides a different vineyard setting. Mont Aimé near Bergères-lès-Vertus is an additional viewpoint with walking paths and an orientation table. Keep that as a separate extension, planning access locally rather than building a fixed walking circuit or summit drive into a Hautvillers day.
Hautvillers questions
Can visitors enter Saint-Sindulphe church?
Yes, Saint-Sindulphe church in Hautvillers is publicly accessible and entry is free. From 1 November 2026 to 28 February 2027, the published hours are 09:00 to 16:00 daily, with closure on 25 December and 1 January. Keep sightseeing respectful of services and the building’s religious role.
What is the difference between the church and abbey?
Saint-Sindulphe is the accessible church containing Dom Pérignon’s tomb; Saint-Pierre abbey is neighbouring private property. Plan the historical visit around the church and village. A tour stop in Hautvillers describes the village programme and should be read separately from any proposed access to private abbey interiors.
Where does the featured Hautvillers day trip start?
Reims is the departure city for the eight-hour day trip with a Hautvillers stop. The programme includes three family estates, nine Champagne samples, passage through the Avenue de Champagne and a main-course lunch. Check the meeting point for the chosen Sunday date, since some departures use an alternative station.