Taittinger: Under the Abbey of Saint-Nicaise

Chalk crayères 18 metres under Reims, worked for chalk from the 3rd century AD, say Taittinger and the champagne houses' trade body; Taittinger dates its oldest quarries, the UNESCO-listed ones, to the 4th century, while the UNESCO site body's own pages range from Gallo-Roman times to the 10th century. Some connecting tunnels run 40 metres high, and from seven metres down the temperature holds at 10–12°C all year round. The hill takes its name from Saint Nicaise, a 5th-century bishop of Reims killed when barbarians overran the city; construction of the abbey church above began in 1231 and nothing of it survives above ground. Comtes de Champagne rests down here for nearly ten years before release.

What to do there

4 things to do

1. 1 Descend to the Massacre Site History · Price: moderate

   You descend 18 meters into the Saint-Nicaise crypts (9 Place Saint-Nicaise, Reims), where monks were massacred by Vandal barbarians in 407 AD. These chalk quarries became crypts, now filled with champagne — the ultimate transformation of sacred space. Book at taittinger.com or call +33 3 26 85 84 33 for tours at 9:30am, 11am, 2pm, 3:30pm. €29 for Classic Tour (2 wines), €45 for Prestige (4 wines + Comtes de Champagne). Count the steps as you descend — 18 meters into history.

   Backup: If sold out, Pommery has similar depth (30m) but different history.

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2. 2 Find the Oldest Chisel Marks Adventure · Free

   Taittinger dates its oldest pits to the 4th century; the UNESCO site body's own pages range from Gallo-Roman times to the 10th century. Whoever carved these chalk galleries worked with hand tools, leaving diagonal chisel marks in herringbone patterns that are still visible throughout the Saint-Nicaise cellars. During your tour, stop at any exposed chalk wall section and ask your guide: "Can you show us the oldest chisel marks, and how old does the house say they are?" Touch the wall gently — you're touching craftsmanship whose age is still disputed.

   Backup: The deepest section always has the most visible marks.

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3. 3 Toast in the Monks' Sanctuary Wine · Price: moderate

   You're drinking champagne that aged where monks once rested before being murdered — Taittinger Brut Réserve (blend of 35 villages) or Comtes de Champagne on the Prestige tour (100% Chardonnay from grand cru, aged 10+ years). In the tasting room or within the crypts themselves, ask: "How long have bottles been aging in the exact spot we're standing?" The answer ranges from 3-15 years of slumber in sacred ground.

   Backup: Buy a bottle to drink at the Reims Cathedral viewpoint.

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4. 4 Witness the Pyramid of Bottles Adventure · Free · Optional

   Massive pyramids of up to 20,000 bottles rise like industrial cathedrals in the main aging gallery — each bottle turned by hand during riddling. Find the largest pyramid and count the layers (usually 12-15), then ask: "How many bottles are in this pyramid?" The staggering numbers reveal the scale of champagne production hidden beneath Reims.

   Backup: Every gallery has at least one pyramid.

   Log Memory