Hautvillers

Skin Villers (derived from " Altavilla " and " Altvillots " ) is a commune of 768 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011 ) in the department of Marne, in the Champagne -Ardenne region, about 7 km from Epernay and 20 km from Reims. It is located in the Regional Natural Park of the Montagne de Reims.

Abbey of Saint Pierre d' Hautvillers

To 650/662 Nivard founded Archbishop of Reims, the abbey of Saint Pierre d' Haut Villers, one of the oldest Benedictine monasteries in the world. According to legend, a pigeon showed him the place where he should build a monastery according to the rules of St. Benedict and Columbanus. Nivards successor as archbishop of Reims, Rieul, began his ecclesiastical career 669 in Villers skin. The monastery was in the 9th century an important scriptorium and the center of book illumination, from the example, the Ebo Gospels and the Utrecht Psalter come. In addition, it has also gained a reputation as a fine wine producer.

The of Rabanus Maurus and Hincmar of Reims for his radical conception of the so-called " gemina praedestinatio " - double predestination ( predestination ) God - relentlessly pursued monk Gottschalk of Orbais († 869 ) spent the last twenty years of his life in skin Villers in custody.

The monastery was destroyed by the Normans 882, 1449 burned down by the English, destroyed in 1564 during the Wars of the Huguenots, and yet restored again and again, most recently with the financial support of the French queen Catherine de Medici.

Birthplace of champagne

In 1668 came the monk Pierre Pérignon, named Dom Pérignon ( 1638-1715 to ), from a monastery near Verdun to Saint Pierre d' Hautvillers and was there until his death cellarer, responsible for economic use of the monastery brother. As the wine production was one of the main sources of income of the monastery, this came under his supervision, and he was thus de facto Butler. He was the first champagne wine to foam ( effervescence ), examined the phenomenon of double fermentation and waste- the first wines of different layers to form a blend. He has a method of bottle fermentation for the production of sparkling wine, extent developed, according to the prevailing view today but did not invent the "méthode champenoise ". On him the technique of Weißkelterns red grape varieties goes back undetectable.

Winery Moet & Chandon

After the French Revolution, many initially confiscated goods were sold to bring money into the empty treasury. Among these was the former Abbey of Villers skin that was purchased in 1794 with the surrounding vineyards of Jean- Remy Moët, who turned it into a winery, which is part of the 1832 renamed Moët & Chandon company today. Since 1921, she calls her most famous champagne after the cellar master of the 17th century. Previously since the early 19th century local winemakers had used the name for their wines. In the winery there is a wine museum.

Attractions

Abbey Church

From the former monastery is now only renewed in the 17th century abbey church of Saint- Sidulphe with their originating from the 17th and 18th century monks' choir, interesting paneling, stalls and paintings, including two works from the studio of Philippe de Champaigne. Above the main altar there is a powerful candlestick out of the four wheels of a winepress. In the church is the grave Dom Perignon's plate.

Wrought iron signboards

Twinning

• Hautvillers since 1981 Partner Municipality of Kiedrich in the Rheingau -Taunus-Kreis in Hesse.