Table of Contents

1. View on the Landscape

2. Terroir and Land Use

3. Bois-Soulain Wood and Historical Discoveries

4. Panoramic View from Brimont Mountain

5. Estate of the Viscount Ruinart de Brimont

6. About the Author

View on the Landscape

Brimont Mountain rises gently above the plains facing Reims, its soil composed of a fertile layer of yellow sand, between eighteen and twenty inches thick. This sand rests on a layer of white tufa, a calcareous rock entirely sterile, beneath which lies a bed of dense clay. Farther down, deep in the subsoil, are stone quarries renowned for yielding a stone of higher quality than any found in neighboring regions.

Historical records recount that in 1346, stone from Brimont and nearby Hermonville was used to construct the bridge at the Porte de Cérès in Reims. A cartulary ledger of the city notes that each foot of stone transported from these quarries cost just seven deniers, while stone cutting required three deniers per foot. Master masons were paid two sols per day, laborers nine deniers, and transporting the materials over gravel roads added four deniers per load.

Sandstone beds, long quarried for paving stones, also dot the mountain. These deposits, exploited for generations, are now nearing exhaustion. Many quarries have been abandoned altogether, their remaining stone too costly to extract compared to its market value.

As one descends from the mountain toward the plain that stretches toward Reims, the soil becomes less stony yet remains shallow, barely a foot thick before reaching the underlying chalk or chalky tufa. Despite its thinness, this soil is remarkably fertile, though it must be amended approximately every twelve years. Farmers who delay this renewal see a noticeable decline in yield. The cereal crops grown here, particularly wheat and rye, are widely recognized for their superior quality compared to those of surrounding areas.

Terroir and Land Use

The terroir of Brimont Mountain encompasses a varied and productive landscape. One hundred arpents are planted with vines, while two hundred and fifty to three hundred arpents are covered with whitewood and fir forests. Over two thousand arpents of fertile, arable land unfold beyond the wooded slopes. There are no uncultivated lands, no commons, meadows, or pastures.

The vineyards are cultivated following the techniques used throughout the Montagne de Reims and the Marne region. Soil is renewed using yellow earth taken from the mountain itself, combined with composted material known as "magasins"—a layered mixture of soil and manure to preserve its richness. Vines are typically amended every four years and worked manually with spades. Approximately one-third of the vines are trained in high trellises.

Bois-Soulain Wood and Historical Discoveries

Between Brimont Mountain and the city of Reims lies the wood of Bois-Soulain (also known as Bois-Soulains), a green corridor enriched by numerous poplar and fir plantations thanks to the efforts of M. Ruinart de Brimont. These plantings have beautified the landscape considerably. Bois-Soulains extends over two hundred arpents, and its long-standing presence is confirmed by toponyms such as La Yue-des-Bois, which evoke its historical roots and evolution.

Around eight years before the publication of this account, a striking silver medal was discovered during work in the coppice. It bore a close resemblance in size and shape to the fifty-centime coin and featured the image of the Roman Emperor Gordian, surrounded by the inscription “Imperator Gordianus Pius Augustus.” The reverse bore the legend “Securitas reipublicae,” identifying it as a coin struck in honor of Gordian the Younger, likely the son or nephew of Gordian II, who was elected Emperor at the age of sixteen in the year 238. The young prince’s likeness appears youthful on the medal, consistent with his early ascension.

Bois-Soulain also appears in the political history of Reims. Records state that in 1346, when the Porte de Cérès was being built, a load of wood carted from Bois-Soulain to Reims cost one sol. A curious feature of this woodland, now owned by the Viscount de Brimont, is an intermittent spring known as the Fossé du Ruisseau-de-froid—commonly referred to as "Le Froid." Some believe the spring originates within the woods, while others trace its source to Berru Mountain, a village two leagues northwest of Reims. This enigmatic spring has flowed irregularly at times, while on other occasions it has run continuously for six or seven months. When in full flow, it is directed via a specially constructed canal toward the plain of Roquincourt. This canal is lined with tall poplars, planted under the guidance of M. Ruinart de Brimont.

Panoramic View from Brimont Mountain

Before descending completely from Brimont Mountain, one cannot resist pausing to admire the vast panorama. The eye sweeps over the immense plain and the ring of mountains that gently surround it. To the northwest and northeast lies a graceful chain of hills that stretches toward Neuf-Châtel and even as far as Marchais, near the famous pilgrimage town of Liesse. This majestic vista encompasses more than fifteen villages, the Suippe and Aisne rivers, and several major routes of travel.

Turning west and eastward, with the south forming the central axis of the view, the sight is no less captivating. The wide plain reveals the city of Reims, its jewel-like presence dominated by the soaring cathedral, which appears from a distance like a grand ship resting upon serene waters.

The encircling hills, lying two to three leagues away, offer a scene of pastoral richness—lavishly adorned by the blessings of Ceres and Bacchus.

Estate of the Viscount Ruinart de Brimont

To end this account without mentioning the estate of the Viscount Ruinart de Brimont would be to overlook one of the most significant landmarks of this region. The people of Brimont, many of whom owe their livelihoods and comfort to the Viscount, would be right to accuse such an omission.

The estate lies at the base of Brimont Mountain, on its southern slope, standing in solitary grace just a gunshot’s distance from the village of Brimont and not much farther from Courcy. From the vantage of Courcy, one enjoys an excellent view; the mountain of Saint-Thierry closes the horizon on that side, allowing the viewer to count the villages nestled along its flank.

The manor’s main facade faces south, offering a full view of Reims, with its skyline only interrupted by the vine-covered slopes of the Montagne de Reims. Just north of the house, as one ascends the mountain, stretches a magnificent vineyard owned by the Viscount himself. According to local records, the estate began with this vineyard, the best cultivated and most beautiful in the region.

It was here that the father of the current Viscount—remembered fondly and with reverence—began construction of the family residence, called the Hermitage, in July 1735. The house was first occupied by a steward-vinekeeper in 1749. The name “Hermitage” remains to this day, etched in black marble above the main entrance.

The annals recount how the original house was accidentally destroyed by fire on April 26th, 1761, later rebuilt and enriched by successive generations of the family.

Discretion prevents a detailed account of the manor’s rooms and furnishings, but it suffices to say that everything is arranged with harmony and function in mind. The estate includes both a farmhouse and a manor house. One particularly noteworthy feature is a water tap in one of the service rooms, supplying water directly to the kitchens. This water originates from a spring accessed by a vast excavation of three hundred and eighty-seven toises, undertaken by M. Ruinart de Brimont and his son beneath the vineyard below the Hermitage. The spring flows into a reservoir and is then distributed throughout the estate.

Beneath the manor lies a vast wine cellar capable of holding up to 2,500 casks, with two wine presses and all necessary equipment. Additional cellars, carved under part of the vineyard, extend from the main complex. All are built at a single level, featuring solid vaulting and careful craftsmanship.

The gardens and terraces are equally enchanting, their design and cultivation inviting prolonged exploration. Grottoes adorned with shells and stones, bridges, leafy bowers, and a quaint hermitage provide a series of scenic pauses throughout the estate. Among these highlights is a milestone referenced elsewhere, adding a further historical touch to the landscape.

The estate’s most remarkable addition is a recently constructed chapel, built by the Viscount de Brimont near the house at the end of one of the main paths. Oriented to the east and designed in the Gothic style, the chapel’s entrance opens onto a graceful terrace. A small open bell turret crowns the façade, housing a single bell.

The interior is lit by four clear windows on each side, adorned with colored glass medallions depicting saints and rosettes. A similar rose window graces the portal. The circular apse holds a beautiful marble altar, and the chapel is dedicated to the Holy Virgin.

Its noble simplicity and strategic location make it a focal point of the estate. The chapel was solemnly consecrated on June 13th, 1826, by His Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop of Reims, accompanied by his Vicars-General.

This account of Brimont Mountain and its village concludes with a final note of admiration. Over the past twelve years, the Viscount has transformed the northern slope of the mountain by planting twelve arpents of fir trees, converting land previously fit only for oats every third year into thriving woodland.

Yet even these valuable and aesthetic improvements would mean little without the benevolent character of the estate’s master. The Viscount Ruinart de Brimont is beloved by the people of Brimont—young and old, rich and poor—as a true patriarch, known for his kindness and wisdom.

If there is any failing in this account, it may be that it risks offending the modesty of its subject. Nevertheless, this humble chronicle—dedicated entirely to the public good—stands as a historical tribute to Brimont’s people and to the noble family who has so deeply shaped their world.

May it earn the appreciation of the Société d’agriculture, commerce, sciences et arts du département de la Marne, to whom it is respectfully submitted. Should that come to pass, the author’s long vigils and devoted work will be more than rewarded.

About the Author

Étienne Povillon-Piérard (1773–1846)

Étienne Povillon-Piérard, born in Reims in 1773, was a distinguished local scholar of the nineteenth century. Employed at the municipal archives of Reims, he dedicated his life to the study of the history, topography, and heritage of his native city and its surrounding region.

His work combined meticulous archival research with direct landscape observation, producing a series of topographical and historical studies characterized by a statistical-descriptive approach. Povillon-Piérard’s writing style blended documentary precision—drawing heavily on archival sources and medieval cartularies—with an antiquarian perspective typical of early nineteenth-century historiography before the rise of academic history.

While modern historians have critiqued his work for a relative lack of social analysis, Povillon-Piérard’s publications remain invaluable sources for understanding the rural history and evolving landscape of Champagne.

Notes of Measurements

1 arpent = 0.34 ha

1 toise = 1.949 m

1 pouce = 2.707 cm 

Source

Povillon-Piérard Étienne, Tableau Historique et Statistique de la Montagne et du Village de Brimont, Châlons, 1826 

TAG: BRIMONT, CHAMPAGNE TOPOGRAPHY, RUINART ESTATE, HISTORICAL VITICULTURE, REIMS