North Champagne


North Champagne

North Champagne is the area where you’ll find the largest farms in France. Large plains extend from Paris to the Belgium border, where an intensive, highly-mechanized agriculture developed after World War II. Over 60% of the territory is occupied by farmland, and although the vines grown in Champagne are famous, crops are largely dominant.

Crop
Crop

Wheat, barley and rapeseed are the three main crops in the rotations. The area is a European leader for cereal production, and some of the higher yields in France are recorded here. The largest cereal cooperative in Europe, the two largest malt producers in the world, as well as large starch factories are located in the area. An easy access to northern european countries and to the port of Dunkerque facilitates cereal trade.

Did you know France is the world leader for the production of sugar and ethanol (biofuel) from sugarbeet ? Subject to strong regulations and quotas, the production of sugar beet in the area relies on the evolutions of the Commom Agricultural Policy (CAP).

67% of the national potato crop is harvested in the region, over 110 000 ha. Potatoes are sold for human consumption or to starch manufactures.

North Champagne is also a leader in many vegetable field-crops. Endives, salsifis, green beans, peas, Brussels spouts, onions : the major part of the national tonnage for these vegetables grows in North Champagne.

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Livestock
Livestock

Boulogne-sur-mer is the leading fishing port in France with a diversified fleet of almost 150 boats. Over 70 species of fish are unloaded and sold at the fish auction every day. It is also the largest European seafood products centre. Over 140 international and national companies have opted to establish themselves at Boulogne-sur-Mer. On one single site, they benefit from a wide range of services on their doorstep : from filleting, salting, cooking, canning, to trading.  Located in the immediate vicinity of the busiest navigation channel in the world, Boulogne-sur-mer is also a commercial port and a cross-channnel terminal.

Wine
Wine

There are over 15 000 growers of Champagne, but most of them manage plots of less than 1 ha ! Every year, 120 000 pickers harvest by hand the precious grapes, which are then sent to pressing units. Champagne wines are usually made by skilfully blending varieties, but the specificity of these wines lies in the bottle-fermentation process during which bottles are turned from right to left, according to traditional techniques. Many wine houses are open to the visit, come and see for yourself !

Cheese
Cheese

Brie de Meaux, Maroilles and Mimolette are the most famous local cheeses. Creamy with a soft, white rind, the Brie de Meaux requires no introduction. Made with raw cow’s ilk, it is produced in the eastern side of Paris. Maroilles and Mimolette are “northern” cheeses, the first shaped into rectangular blocks and the second shaped into a ball.

Sightseing
Sightseing

On your way to visit the Champagne houses, do not miss the beautiful city of Reims. Kings of France were crowned in the cathedral, a jewel of architecture.

Lille is also a remarkable city, displaying high brick buildings, and a large number of pubs where you can taste some of the best beers in Europe !

In the Bay of the Somme river, a 70 km² protected area displays a large ecological diversity : wetlands and seashores welcome thousands of birds and seals.

North Champagne is the area where you’ll find the largest farms in France. Large plains extend from Paris to the Belgium border, where an intensive, highly-mechanized agriculture developed after World War II. Over 60% of the territory is occupied by farmland, and although the vines grown in Champagne are famous, crops are largely dominant.

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Gastro
Gastro

You may have heard of the famous “andouillette de Troyes”, a sausage-shaped pork preparation seasoned with fresh onions and served with Dijon mustard, of course !

Most chefs serve dishes seasoned with truffles. The vast forests of Ardennes provide households and restaurants with game meat. Have you ever had a wild boar stew ? Or some hare pâté ? You might also want to try this recipe of deer served with white beans and celery purée !

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Crop
Crop
Sugar cane, banana, pineapple
Sightseing
Sightseing
cruising, distillery
Gastro
Gastro
Accras de morue, ti-punch
Crop
Crop
Sugar cane, vegetable, vanilla
Sightseing
Sightseing
vulcanoe Piton de La Fournaise, cruising
Gastro
Gastro
rougail, punch
Crop
Crop
fruit, olive, citrus, kiwi, chestnut
Livestock
Livestock
small beef cattle, dairy sheep, goat, extensive pig
Cheese
Cheese
Brocciu
Sightseing
Sightseing
Bonifacio, Calvi
Gastro
Gastro
Corsican pork
Crop
Crop
Durum wheat, rice, olive, vegetables, flowers
Livestock
Livestock
sheep
Wine
Wine
rosé de Provence
Sightseing
Sightseing
Camargue, Calanques, Aix en Provence, Avignon
Gastro
Gastro
Bouillabaisse, ratatouille, tapenade
Crop
Crop
Fruit, lavender
Livestock
Livestock
Mountain cattle dairy
Cheese
Cheese
Rebelochon, Tommes, Beaufort
Sightseing
Sightseing
Annecy, Lyon, Mont Blanc
Gastro
Gastro
Tartiflette, fondue savoyarde, bouchons lyonnais cuisine
Crop
Crop
wheat
Livestock
Livestock
Limousine, Aubrac, Salers cattle breed, sheep,
Cheese
Cheese
Roquefort, Saint Nectaire, Cantal
Sightseing
Sightseing
Auvergne vulcanoes
Gastro
Gastro
Aligot
Crop
Crop
Sunflower, corn, vegetable, fruit
Livestock
Livestock
Sheep, milk feed veal, duck
Wine
Wine
Bordeaux, Languedoc, Cognac
Cheese
Cheese
Pyrenees Tomme, Rocamadour
Sightseing
Sightseing
Bordeaux, Toulouse, Arcachon bay, Carcassonne
Gastro
Gastro
cassoulet, duck liver, truffles
Crop
Crop
Cereals, plants, seeds, vegetable, apple
Wine
Wine
Loire Valley wines
Cheese
Cheese
Sainte Maure de Tourraine
Sightseing
Sightseing
Chenonceau castle, Chartres cathedral
Gastro
Gastro
Fouée, rillettes
Crop
Crop
Cereals, red smal berries
Livestock
Livestock
Charolaise cattle, Montbéliarde dairy
Wine
Wine
Burgundy wine
Cheese
Cheese
Comté
Sightseing
Sightseing
Beaune Hospices, Burgundy wine route
Gastro
Gastro
œufs meurettes, bœuf bourgignon, coq au vin
Crop
Crop
Corn, hops
Livestock
Livestock
Dairy cattle
Wine
Wine
Alsacian Riesling, Gerwurztraminer
Sightseing
Sightseing
Strasbourg, Alsacian wine route, WW1 Battlefields
Gastro
Gastro
Choucroute, Quiche
Crop
Crop
Wheat, barley, rapeseed, hemp, potato, vegetable field crop
Livestock
Livestock
Fish
Wine
Wine
Champagne
Cheese
Cheese
Maroilles, Brie de Meaux
Sightseing
Sightseing
Reims, Lille, Chantilly
Gastro
Gastro
Andouillette, truffles, game meat
Crop
Crop
Cereal, textile linen
Livestock
Livestock
Cattle dairy Normande, race horse
Wine
Wine
Apple cider, Calvados brandy
Cheese
Cheese
Camembert, Pont l’Eveque
Sightseing
Sightseing
WWII landing beach, Honfleur, Etretat, Monet gardens
Gastro
Gastro
Oysters, mussels
Crop
Crop
Vegetables
Livestock
Livestock
Dairy cattle, pigs, poultry,
Sightseing
Sightseing
Mont Saint Michel, Saint Malo, Guérande’s salt marshes
Gastro
Gastro
Crêpes, cider