Circuit Mélusine

Yesterday we met up with some friends in Vendeuvre-sur-Barse. They’d suggested a walk around the delightful old town of Vendeuvre, followed by dinner in a local restaurant.

The circuit Mélusine, which is a story of a local mermaid, is clearly marked by little metal plaques inserted into the pathways.

You start in the centre of town by the mediatheque, and head out towards the hotel de ville, the site where the vignerons marched in 1911 to campaign against being excluded from the Champagne AOC.

There are information boards at each of the points of interest, explaining a little bit about them. You learn about Mélusine, the Champagne riots, and how the Montgolfier brothers designed a compressor to move water from one of the many rivers up to the castle. All the boards are available as text on their website, where they have both French and English versions.

It was a really delightful walk in the early evening sunshine, finishing with dinner at the charming little Crêperie in Thieffrain.