Launched in 2014 as part of the AGIR programme, developed jointly with the CIVC (Champagne Committee) and Montagne de Reims Regional Nature Park in the Historic Hillsides districts, this waste collection and clean-up initiative on paths, roadsides, and the edges of forests and vineyards, known as Clean Villages and Hillsides, is being extended to all interested Champagne appellation towns and villages.
The initiative now brings together hundreds of volunteers who meet up on the first Saturday in October in a friendly atmosphere. They work together to preserve the winegrowing environment.
The inscription of the Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars on UNESCO's World Heritage List represents a fantastic opportunity to unite the whole of wine-growing Champagne around this common cause of conserving the landscapes and improving our living environment, while involving local residents, local government and wine industry stakeholders.
Would you like to organise the Clean Villages and Hillsides initiative in your local area? A handbook is available and will help you every step of the way: download the handbook.
Participating villages and towns that are up-to-date with their membership fees receive 100 rose bushes, thanks to the partnership forged with the Coopérative du Syndicat Général des Vignerons (General Cooperative Union of Winemakers).
Let's be responsible, respect the environment and rally round to support our amazing region!
Every year, the initiative and its partners - the CIVC (Champagne Committee) and Montagne de Reims Regional Nature Park - run a discussion day on the theme of enhancement.
Local politicians, winemakers and technical experts from the 320 towns/villages in Champagne learn about the practical initiatives being taken to showcase the region, share heritage enhancement best practice, and discover the greatest achievements made in the pursuit of this objective.
Film on the theme of enhancement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HGHbKN2fjM
The conservation of the landscapes and heritage of the Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars is a major challenge within the process of handing over this property to future generations… a property deemed of exceptional importance to the common heritage of humankind.
In this respect, the initiative is developing knowledge-building and recommendation tools in order to achieve this aim.
The Inventory of Champagne Winegrowing Landscapes aims to list the different Champagne winegrowing landscapes in order to protect and showcase them.
The Architectural, Heritage and Landscape Reference Document lays down guidelines for preserving the architectural, town-planning and landscape components of the different parts of the region.
The Built Heritage of the Villages of Winegrowing Champagne highlights the diversity and abundance of the region's little-known built heritage.
The Inventory of Champagne Industrial Heritage presents buildings that are representative of the agri-industrial makeup of the Champagne industry on the historic hillsides, Saint-Nicaise Hill in Reims, and Avenue de Champagne in Épernay.
The Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars 2018 Wind Power Charter determines the landscape impact within the area of undertaking and provides wind farm project developers with directions to follow.
The Methane and Solar Power Charter seeks to help regional players to reconcile regional development with the ecological transition, while conserving the UNESCO World Heritage property.
The 11 themed recommendation documents deal with hydraulic infrastructure development and the construction of retaining walls of all sizes, signage etc.
Launched in 2017, the Pierre Cheval Showcase Award commends and rewards local initiatives to restore our heritage, create or develop new facilities, showcase the Champagne appellation and develop wine tourism, and participate in the general dynamic instigated in Champagne by the World Heritage inscription.
These awards also seek to create a ripple effect and encourage local stakeholders to engage with a forward-looking and quality-based vision of Champagne and the Champagne region, taking the form of developing the region.
The awards are presented annually in late June at the Séjour des Réconciliations gala charity dinner. Each award-winner is presented with a certificate and a Lalique sculpture.
