Champagne Cruise to Meaux France

This video documents our visit to Meaux, France. This was part of our luxury hotel barge cruise through the champagne Region of France. Our cruise was arranged through Francecruises.com and CroiseEurope River cruises.
Meaux is a very historic city in the Ile de France region, just outside Paris. We toured the Meaux cathedral, or Cathedrale Sainte-Etienne de Meaux. This gothic syled cathedral was built in the 12th century over a period of 400 years.
Meaux has been the center of the Wars of Rebellion, WWI and WWII. In September of 1914, the Geman army was forced to retreat from Meaux without capturing the city. This was the beginning of the end for the German forces. The area was also a hot spot during the second World War. America built the Monumente American, or the American Monument, in honor of the French troups that lost their lives defending freedom. One side of the monument bears an English description and the other side in in French.
On a lighter note, Meaux is also known as the city of Brie de Meaux cheese. This brie cheese has the same AOC designation as a fine french wine. We had a tasting served by a member of the Confrérie du Brie de Meaux, a social group formed to promote Brie de Meaux. You will love their “cheese head” hats that look like a wheel of brie.
Another culinary treat that originates in Meaux is Moutarde de Meaux, or Meaux mustard. Known as the mustard of kings, the Pommery family recipe dates back to 1632.
Meaux is a great place to visit without the crowds of tourists you usually find elsewhere when visiting a location with this much history.