Dormans lies on the border of the Marne and Aisne departments and today is one of the main Champagne AOC winegrowing districts. During World War 1, the area was also at the “heart” of the two Battles of the Marne in 1914 and 1918, events commemorated by an impressive memorial.
Dormans is in the centre of the western Marne Valley, which stretches from Épernay in the east to Château-Thierry in the west. Pinot Meunier is the dominant grape variety throughout the area. This fresh and fruity grape is particularly popular in blends, though it is increasingly used in single grape vintages.
However, Dormans is also famous for its Battles of the Marne memorial, located in the château grounds a short distance from the town centre. The memorial commemorates the battles fought in September 1914 and July 1918 during the First World War. The location of the memorial - overlooking Dormans and the Marne Valley - was chosen by Marshall Foch himself, deeming it “the crossover point" for both battles. The memorial has a crypt, chapel, museum and ossuary, where the bodies of 1,500 soldiers, of whom only 11 have been identified, were laid to rest. The site is open from mid-April to early November.
The château gardens and its 25 hectares of grounds are a wonderful area for walking and exploring, with attractions including as the conservation orchard. Until the 1950s, Dormans was a major fruit-growing region. The orchard was planted to preserve this heritage and contains around 150 fruit trees.
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Tourist Office - Dormans les Coteaux de la Marne
Parc du Château 51700 Dormans
Tel.: +33 3.26.53.35.86
Email: office.tourisme.dormans@wanadoo.fr
www.tourisme-paysages-champagne.com
