Within the last millennium France’s Champagne region has ascended two stunning pinnacles of fame and fortune with a long, deep gorge between them. In this book the author traces the history and culture of its highly varied past to its remarkable present. More than 100 color photographs provide a visual perspective, especially to events and occurrences tied with specific locales.

The beauty of Champagne’s medieval buildings evidence a time of great opulence and artistry. Today the bustle and vigor of the area’s hubs attest to the immense success of the modern champagne trade. Generally speaking, however, less attention tends to focus on the tenor of the times between two eras. Undeniably the deleterious effects from the periods that followed Champagne’s medieval golden age render recent accomplishments all the more impressive.

Nothing less than a tornado of ill winds swept the north-eastern zone of France from its highly esteemed position in Europe and plunged it into fate’s dark abyss where it remained for hundreds of years while misfortune reigned. The rebound of the region has come from a most improbable place with an even less likely cast of characters responsible for its immense successes.