Marne << mahrn >> River is the largest branch of the Seine River in France. It rises in eastern France on the Langres Plateau and flows north and west for 310 miles (500 kilometers) through rich grain land. It empties into the Seine River southeast of Paris. The Marne passes through the historic Champagne region. Epernay, an important center of the production and trade of champagne, stands on the river.
A canal forming a shortcut at Meaux dates from the 1200’s. It ranks as France’s oldest artificial waterway. Further canals were constructed in the mid-1800’s, enabling large barges to navigate the river. The Marne is linked to the east by a canal that runs through Nancy to Strasbourg on the Rhine River. Other canals connect the Marne to the Aisne, Meuse, Moselle, and Rhône rivers.
The Marne River valley was the site of heavy fighting during World War I (1914-1918). Numerous memorials to those killed in the war stand in the region.
