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Aÿ ( ; also Ay) is a former commune in the Marne department in northeastern
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
. On 1 January 2016 it was merged into the new commune
Aÿ-Champagne Aÿ-Champagne () is a commune in the Marne (department), Marne department, northern France. The municipality was established on 1 January 2016 and consists of the former communes of Aÿ, Mareuil-sur-Ay, and Bisseuil.Champagne Champagne (; ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, which demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...
. Aÿ's vineyards are located in the Vallée de la Marne subregion of
Champagne Champagne (; ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, which demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...
, and are classified as Grand Cru (100%) in the Champagne vineyard classification. The vineyards, harvest huts, presses, and cellars in the region were inscribed on the
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
World Heritage List World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural heritag ...
in 2015 as part of the Champagne hillsides, houses and cellars site, because of the region's testimony to the development of champagne. Many prestigious Champagne houses own vineyards in the immediate vicinity, and several producers are located in Aÿ, including Ayala and
Bollinger Bollinger () is a French Champagne house, a producer of luxury sparkling wines from the Champagne (wine region), Champagne region. They produce several labels of Champagne (wine), Champagne under the Bollinger name, including the vintage ''Vieil ...
.


International relations

Aÿ is twinned with: * Besigheim,
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
*
Newton Abbot Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish on the River Teign in the Teignbridge, Teignbridge District of Devon, England. Its population was 24,029 in 2011, and was estimated at 26,655 in 2019. It grew rapidly in ...
,
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
* Quaregnon,
Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
*
Sinalunga Sinalunga is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Siena, in the Tuscany region of central Italy. History Aside from scanty prehistoric findings, the oldest historical remains date from the 8th century BC, when Sinalunga was perhaps an Etrusca ...
,
Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
– since 2004


Personalities

Aÿ was the birthplace of: * Denise Schmandt-Besserat (1933–), French American cognitive archaeologist and art history professor * Lucien Berland (1888–1962), entomologist and arachnologist *
René Lalique René Jules Lalique (; 6 April 1860 – 1 May 1945) was a French jeweller, medallist, and glass designer known for his creations of glass art, perfume bottles, vases, jewellery, chandeliers, clocks, and automobile hood ornaments. Life Lalique ...
(1860–1945), glass designer * Stephen Rochefontaine (1755–1814), military engineer * Albert Lemaître, sporting motorist in 1890s and 1900s Aÿ was the home of: *Juan Romero (1919–2020), Spanish Legion d'Honneur recipient, anti-fascist Spanish Civil War veteran, and last survivor of the Nazis' Mauthausen concentration camp


See also

*
Bollinger Bollinger () is a French Champagne house, a producer of luxury sparkling wines from the Champagne (wine region), Champagne region. They produce several labels of Champagne (wine), Champagne under the Bollinger name, including the vintage ''Vieil ...
* Champagne Krug * Classification of Champagne vineyards *
Communes of the Marne department The following is a list of the 610 communes in the French department of Marne. The communes cooperate in the following intercommunalities (as of 2025):List of short place names


References

Former communes of Marne (department) Grand Cru Champagne villages {{Épernay-geo-stub