Visit: Abbey St-Pierre in Hautvillers, France - Final Resting Place of Dom Pérignon
- Brooke
- Jun 11, 2016
- 2 min read
High on the hills overlooking the Vallée de la Marne resides the final resting place of Dom Pérignon, the namesake of one of the most coveted brands of champagne known the world over. Inside the hallowed walls of the Abbey Saint-Pierre of Hautvillers, underneath a large stone block at the front of a picturesque alter is the man we can all thank for luring us to this charming corner of France.
Statue of Dom Perignon at the Moët & Chandon headquarters in Épernay
Built in 650, this is the abbey where Pierre Pérignon, also known by his Benedictine monk name, Dom Pérignon, experimented with the techniques that would ultimately lead to the méthode champenoise, or the process by which champagne is made. For more information on this method, please check out other posts regarding visits to the different champagne crayers, or cellars, that we toured.
Exterior of Abbey Saint-Pierre d'Hautvillers
Today this abbey and its attached church, Saint-Sindulphe, is owned by Moët & Chandon, and is considered a spiritual place by the current Chef du Cave, Richard Geoffrey. "The legacy of the Abbey of Hautvillers, where Dom Pierre Pérignon lived, is beyond technical, it is first and foremost spiritual. Inspiration finds me here, as I walk its grounds and I become one with this space, with no objective other than remaining true to the timeless essence of Dom Pérignon."
Indeed, spending some time walking around this beautiful church is an absolute must-do for any person visiting the Champagne area, to witness the birthplace of this special wine, and to pay homage to the man who helped put this delicious concoction on the map.
Follow the signs to enter the church and visit Dom Perignon's final resting place.
Inside the church, where the stone walls keep the space nice and chilly.
As you walk into the space, turn around and admire the pipes to the church's organ above you.
The view of the pews and the church as seen from the alter. Overall, a beautiful space for a final resting place of one of the world's most influential people.
The sign above the stone marking Dom Perignon's final resting place reads, "Here lies Dom Pierre Perignon. Cellerar of the Abbey 1639-1715."
I hope if you are ever in this area that you get a chance to wander around this church and admire not only the beautiful interior, but also get a chance to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Dom Pérignon.
Abbey of Saint-Pierre Details
Cost: Free Admission
Amount of time needed to visit: We spent about 15-20 minutes inside the church, and we had the entire place to ourselves.
There are clean and modern toilets that appeared to be pretty new by the entrance shown above.
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Ventured up to Hautvillers and paid homage to the man, the myth, the legend yourself? Always dreamed of walking in the footsteps of the man who gave us Champagne? Share your stories below!