Since March 25, the city of stained glass in Troyes (Aube) has been hosting an unusual exhibition. In the center of a room, a table is not covered with green panels, but with a relief card representing Champagne. Behind, a tunnel acts as a cellar-rayère and invites visitors to immerse themselves in the history of this territory, 10 years after the registration of the UNESCO heritage of the hillsides, houses and cellars of Champagne.
Designed as an immersive cultural mediation system, this exhibition aims to make the general public aware of the exceptional universal value of Champagne. A project thought out upstream, as Amandine Crépin, director of the Mission Coteaux, Maisons et Caves de Champagne says: “The exhibition was born in the summer of 2019, before the COVIR. We asked ourselves the question of having mediation supports to present registration, and above all circulate interpretation equipment. »»
Seven interactive modules punctuate this course, combining illustrations, sound devices, immersive elements and games. A helmet allows you to hear the noises of the cellar, while a digital terminal and a table dedicated to children allow you to better visualize the landscapes and the architecture of champagne houses … Everything is thought to reach a large audience, in a fun and sensory way.
“We wanted something very fun, where we manipulate, where we talk to several audiences,” says Amandine Crépin. “Everything is translated into English. There is sound, history, quotes. There is a bit of everything in this exhibition. »»
Another strong issue in this project: its mobility. All the elements have been designed to be easily dismantled and transported, in order to adapt to the various reception places throughout the Champagne territory. “One of our requirements was the nomadic nature of this exhibition. This is why all the furniture is removable and transportable, ”underlines the director.
When Champagne tells its story
The “hillsides, houses and champagne cellars” reached the greatest international recognition in 2015 when UNESCO scored it on the World Heritage List. Place of Champagne memory and culture, this “unique property” has now entered into the common heritage of humanity. Based in Épernay and Reims, in the Marne, the association which defends it brings together professionals in the Champagne sector and the communities of wine champagne.
Three people manage this small structure on a daily basis with two main missions. “The first is to be the guardian of this inscription,” says Amandine Crépin. “We are consulted by the State services on all major major projects that will develop, to verify that we do not alleviate the integrity and authenticity of the premises. »»
The second mission is that of the transmission of the universal value of these landscapes, which was recognized by UNESCO. It is in this context that this exhibition project was organized, because it is intended to explain to the inhabitants and to the general public why Champagne was recognized on the World Heritage List “, develops the director. A triple gratitude: that of Champagne know-how, that of the impact of the production of champagne on the landscapes of the region, and that of Champagne as a symbol of celebrations and France, around the world.
Since its inauguration in 2022, the exhibition thus has traveled the UNESCO engagement zone, which includes five departments and 320 wine municipalities in AOC Champagne. It has already found its place in several major events, and will continue its journey in July 2025 in the Riceys, on the occasion of a double symbolic anniversary: the 10th anniversary of the World Heritage and the 30th anniversary of the Champagne Route.
“We work on a daily basis with local promotion associations and winegrowers. For the 10th anniversary, we thought it would be really interesting that she could also be installed for the 30th anniversary of the Champagne Route en Fête, ”explains Amandine Crépin. A double celebration that will deserve its cut.
Practical info: the traveling exhibition “My champagne as a World Heritage” will be installed this year:
– In Troyes: at the city of stained glass (Hôtel-Dieu le Comte). From March 25 to April 27, 2025. Entrance included in the ticket from the Cité du Vitrail.
– In Riceys: at the Halle des Riceys (Bar Côte). From July 17 to 29, 2025. As part of the 30th anniversary of the Champagne in Fête, organized by Cap’C.