Champagne-Ardenne Tourisme commemorates Napoleonic era

Champagne-Ardenne Tourisme is co-ordinating a programme of events throughout the year to commemorate the bicentennial of the historic campaign by Emperor Napoleon I and the Armies of the sixth Coalition, ending with the abdication of the Emperor and his subsequent exile on Elba.

The events follow in the footsteps of the leaders of the armed forces with reconstructed camps and battles, exhibitions and conferences and live entertainment in towns throughout the area, including Ch?lons-en-Champagne, Reims, Troyes, Montmirail and Brienne-le-Ch?teau.

Highlights include the Napoleonic Festival at Tinqueux, Reims (www.tinqueuxfetenapoleon.com) from April 5-6, which commemorates the bicentenary of the Battle of Reims with camps, bands, conferences, exhibitions, re-enactment and demonstrations of military strategy, parades, light and sound and two re-enactments of the Battle of Reims; the Napoleonic Festival at Brienne-le-Ch?teau (www.musee-napoleon-brienne.fr) from May 17-18, which features more than 300 re-enactors at an enormous camp, battle re-enactment of the capture of the castle of Brienne, war game demonstrations, parade, children?s games, and an evening show outlining the First and Second Empires; and the Napoleonic Festival at Montmirail from May 31-June 1, which re-enacts the Battle of Montmirail-Marchais in 1814 and celebrates the ?Campaign of France 1814?.

For more information visit www.champagne-ardenne-tourism.co.uk 

A two-night break combining Napoleon and Champagne is available at the hotel-restaurant Le Tadorne from ?158 per person. The price includes admission to the Napoleonic museum in Brienne-le-Ch?teau, a tour of a Champagne wine cellar with tasting, two dinners (excluding drinks), one Champagne aperitif and a free bottle of Champagne per couple.

For further details see www.le-tadorne.com/sejour-troyes-foret-orient.html