Roundabouts & Champagne Flutes

The villages in the appellation are well known for their Champagne themed decorations. The Aube has one new one and another in development that will add to an already rich collection.

Hautvillers is famous for its iron hanging signs. These can also be seen throughout the Champagne making area. Some villages have murals. Old presses and barrels are used to offer floral displays. There are also large bottles and corks as well as scenes of figures working in the vines. Cramant has an unusual statue of a bear. The inhabitants of the village are known locally as the bears.

Montgueux near Troyes has a large Champagne flute at the entrance to the village. Les Riceys had flutes in plexiglass that were much beloved by tourists for photo opportunities. They were getting a bit worn and it was decided to remove them recently and replace them with large flutes made in the longer lasting stainless steel. There are three villages here and three appellations so it was natural to choose three large flutes and place one in each village. They’re about 4m high and weigh about 200 kilos and each of them is unique.

Bar-sur-Seine has it’s own project using stainless steel. It will be made by the same local company, Sotralinox, who designed and constructed the three large flutes. This time though the sculpture is the work of two local artists, Michelle and Thierry Kayo-Houël. Visitors to Troyes will know their sculpture Coeur de Troyes.

The new sculpture was inspired by the relief of the vineyards and signals the town’s entry to them. This is why it will be placed on a roundabout on the road from Bar-sur-Seine to Celles-sur-Ource.

It’s hoped to have it finished and in place for the Tour de France in July. The town has already raised 10,000€ to build the 70,000€ sculpture. The local authorities are urgently seeking donations.