Champagne-Ardenne

Region of northeast France; area 25,606 sq km/9,887 sq mi; population (1999 est) 1,342,400. Its largest town is Reims, but its administrative centre is Châlons-sur-Marne. It comprises the départements of Ardennes, Aube, Marne, and Haute-Marne. The land is fertile in the west and supports sheep and dairy farming; its vineyards in the Reims-Épernay area produce the famous champagne sparkling wines. The region also includes part of the Ardennes forest.

Champagne-Ardenne forms the plains east of the Paris basin. Its other chief towns are Épernay, Saint-Dizier, Chaumont, and Troyes, the latter being the capital of the ancient province of Champagne. The region was the scene of bitter fighting between the French and German armies during World War I, in particular the two Battles of Champagne fought December 1914–March 1915 and September–October 1915.