Learn about the Department of Marne in Eastern France

Marne is a department in the Grand Est region of France, as many other departments in the country it is named after the river Marne which flows through it. The prefecture (capital) of Marne is Châlons-en-Champagne (formerly known as Châlons-sur-Marne). The sub-prefectures are Épernay, Reims, and Vitry-le-François. The Marne department is surrounded by the departments of Ardennes, Meuse, Haute-Marne, Aube, Seine-et-Marne and Aisne. Geologically it divides into two distinct parts; the Upper Cretaceous chalk plain in the east and the more wooded and hilly Eocene and Oligocene in the west. The Champagne vineyards producing the world-famous sparkling wine are located within Marne.  Rivers draining the department include the Marne, Vesle, Ardre and Somme-Soude. Numerous other rivers, such as the Grande and the Petite Morin rise in the department but flow mainly in others. Conversely, the Aube joins the Seine in the department of Marne.  Learn more about the department of Marne on wikipedia.