Épernay

Épernay (French pronunciation: [epɛʁnɛ]) is a commune in the Marne department of northern France,^[3] 130 km north-east of Paris on the mainline railway to Strasbourg. The town sits on the left bank of the Marne at the extremity of the Cubry valley which crosses it.^[4]

Épernay
Subprefecture and commune
Vineyards near Épernay
Coat of arms
Location of Épernay
Épernay Show map of France Épernay Show map of Grand Est
Coordinates: 49°02′25″N 3°57′36″E
Country	France
Region	Grand Est
Department	Marne
Arrondissement	Épernay
Canton	Épernay-1 and 2
Intercommunality	CA Épernay, Coteaux et Plaine de Champagne
Government
• Mayor (2023–2026)	Christine Mazy[1]
Area 1	22.69 km2 (8.76 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	22,022
• Density	970/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
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.

Épernay is a sub-prefecture of the department and seat of an arrondissement.^[3]

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.^[4]

Population

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 3,736 —     1800 4,480 +2.63% 1806 4,544 +0.24% 1821 4,977 +0.61% 1831 5,318 +0.66% 1836 5,457 +0.52% 1841 5,978 +1.84% 1846 6,095 +0.39% 1851 7,386 +3.92% 1856 9,346 +4.82% 1861 10,598 +2.55% 1866 11,704 +2.01% 1872 12,927 +1.67% 1876 15,506 +4.65% 1881 16,388 +1.11% 1886 17,907 +1.79% 1891 18,361 +0.50% 1896 19,377 +1.08%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 20,478 +1.11% 1906 21,637 +1.11% 1911 21,811 +0.16% 1921 21,806 −0.00% 1926 20,589 −1.14% 1931 20,381 −0.20% 1936 20,406 +0.02% 1946 19,703 −0.35% 1954 21,222 +0.93% 1962 21,882 +0.38% 1968 26,583 +3.30% 1975 29,677 +1.59% 1982 27,668 −1.00% 1990 26,682 −0.45% 1999 25,844 −0.35% 2007 24,591 −0.62% 2012 23,529 −0.88% 2017 22,671 −0.74%
Source: EHESS[5] and INSEE (1968-2017)[6]

Main sights

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 villas belonging to rich wine merchants. The town has also spread to the right bank of the Marne.^[4]

One of its churches retains a portal and stained-glass windows from the 16th century, but the other public buildings are of modern construction.^[4] The most famous street in Épernay is the Avenue de Champagne which features the leading Champagne manufacturers.

Other sights outside the town include:

• Château de Pierry
• Château de Montmort
• Château de Condé

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 major grape varieties used in champagne are the pinot noir, the pinot meunier and the chardonnay.^[7] The production of the equipment and raw materials used in the champagne industry is a major source of local employment. Champagne Pannier, among others, was established in Épernay before moving to Château-Thierry in 1937. Brewing and sugar refinery and the production of hats and caps, are also major industries.^[4]

Épernay station has rail connections to Paris, Strasbourg, Reims, Metz, Nancy and several regional destinations.

Mercier Champagne vineyards in Épernay

Notable people

Épernay was the birthplace of:

• Flodoard (894–966), chronicler
• Maakan Tounkara, handball player
• Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière, Québécois politician
• Gabrielle Dorziat, comedian
• Yohann Diniz, athlete
• John Gadret, cyclist
• Léon Homo (1872–1957), historian
• Jean-Baptiste-Maximien Parchappe de Vinay (1800–1866), psychiatrist
• Alex Vanopslagh, Danish politician

Épernay was the final resting place of:

• Léon Azéma (1888–1978), French architect, died in Épernay and is buried in the cemetery there.
• Yvette Lundy (1916–2019), member of the French Resistance.^[8]

Twin towns — sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in France

Épernay is twinned with:^[9]

• Ettlingen, Germany
• Clevedon, England, United Kingdom
• Fada N'gourma, Burkina Faso
• Middelkerke, Belgium
• Montespertoli, Italy

Climate

Climate data for Épernay (Chouilly) (2004–2020 normals, extremes 2004–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	14.6 (58.3)	21.1 (70.0)	24.7 (76.5)	27.6 (81.7)	31.6 (88.9)	36.1 (97.0)	40.3 (104.5)	37.5 (99.5)	33.5 (92.3)	27.0 (80.6)	21.7 (71.1)	17.0 (62.6)	40.3 (104.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	5.9 (42.6)	7.1 (44.8)	11.2 (52.2)	16.3 (61.3)	19.2 (66.6)	22.9 (73.2)	25.5 (77.9)	24.6 (76.3)	21.2 (70.2)	16.1 (61.0)	9.9 (49.8)	6.4 (43.5)	15.5 (59.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	3.4 (38.1)	4.1 (39.4)	7.2 (45.0)	11.3 (52.3)	14.2 (57.6)	17.8 (64.0)	20.0 (68.0)	19.2 (66.6)	16.2 (61.2)	12.2 (54.0)	7.2 (45.0)	4.0 (39.2)	11.4 (52.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	1.0 (33.8)	1.1 (34.0)	3.2 (37.8)	6.3 (43.3)	9.3 (48.7)	12.7 (54.9)	14.5 (58.1)	13.8 (56.8)	11.2 (52.2)	8.4 (47.1)	4.4 (39.9)	1.6 (34.9)	7.3 (45.1)
Record low °C (°F)	−11.1 (12.0)	−12.3 (9.9)	−10.3 (13.5)	−3.0 (26.6)	0.8 (33.4)	4.9 (40.8)	7.9 (46.2)	6.6 (43.9)	3.7 (38.7)	−3.2 (26.2)	−4.7 (23.5)	−10.9 (12.4)	−12.3 (9.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	57.9 (2.28)	57.2 (2.25)	49.5 (1.95)	37.4 (1.47)	62.7 (2.47)	59.8 (2.35)	55.9 (2.20)	55.8 (2.20)	41.1 (1.62)	55.4 (2.18)	54.7 (2.15)	81.5 (3.21)	668.9 (26.33)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	11.3	11.6	10.6	7.6	9.8	8.8	8.2	8.7	6.7	9.6	10.2	13.1	116.1
Source: Meteociel[10]

See also

• French wine
• Champagne Riots