Rosay can be explored through three distinct themes: its stone church, the history of the Lévêque-Dehan Champagne winery, and the wider natural area of the Brie picarde. Each appeals to different interests. The church offers an architectural and historical landmark; the winery focuses on viticulture and winemaking, while the natural area opens up a different perspective through its varied habitat types. You can choose the focus of your stay according to your interests in culture, Champagne history or nature.

Landscape and natural area

In the inventory dated 25 November 2016, Barzy-sur-Marne is listed as a commune within the ZNIEFF area “Massifs forestiers, vallées et coteaux de la Brie picarde”. The name refers to the forests, valleys and slopes of the Brie picarde. The natural area includes calcareous grasslands, known as Savarts in Champagne; the Coronillo-Brachypodietum habitat type is also listed.

For nature lovers, the particular focus is therefore on the different habitats within a named natural area. The ZNIEFF provides the broader ecological framework; Savarts and Coronillo-Brachypodietum refer to more specific habitat types. These terms give the nature theme its own depth and complement the architectural and winemaking history with a landscape perspective.

The church: construction date and heritage status

The church in Barzy-sur-Marne is a stone building dating from the 13th century. On 25 March 1920, it was classified as a historic monument by decree. The two dates serve different purposes: the 13th century indicates when it was built, while the decree dates its later heritage status. To understand the building, it is worth considering both, without conflating its construction history with its legal recognition. This gives it a clear cultural and historical significance: the focus is on a single stone building, not a founding story like that of the winery.

Champagne history and winemaking

In the historic village of Barzy-sur-Marne, Eugène Dehan founded the Champagne Lévêque-Dehan winery in 1887. Its founding connects a name and a year with the village’s Champagne history. The winery’s visitor attractions include a museum that traces the work involved in viticulture and winemaking. The museum thus offers a thematic introduction to the work behind the finished product.

Champagne Lévêque-Dehan also offers a sensory discovery workshop, with or without a tasting. A tasting is therefore an option, but it is not a requirement for the workshop. The museum and workshop offer different perspectives: the museum traces the work involved in viticulture and production, while the workshop explores the subject through the senses. Champagne enthusiasts can focus more on history and the work of production, or on the workshop format.

Choose a focus for your stay

The distinction is clear when choosing a focus: the church represents architectural and heritage history, the museum and workshop focus on viticulture and production, and the ZNIEFF places Barzy-sur-Marne within a wider natural area. Depending on whether you are more interested in architecture, Champagne or the landscape, you can give these themes different weight.

Discover more destinations: Luzoir, Serches, Beautor, Caulaincourt, Pontavert, Mercin-Et-Vaux, Brunehamel, Saint-Michel

For the broader travel overview: Aisne.