Marne (French pronunciation:[maʁn]) is adepartment in theGrand Est region ofFrance. It is named after the riverMarne which flows through it. Theprefecture (capital) of Marne isChâlons-en-Champagne (formerly known as Châlons-sur-Marne). Thesubprefectures areÉpernay,Reims, andVitry-le-François. It had a population of 566,855 in 2019.^[3]

Marne
Department
Prefecture building of the Marne department, in Châlons-en-Champagne
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Marne in France
Coordinates:49°00′N04°15′E / 49.000°N 4.250°E /49.000; 4.250
Country	France
Region	Grand Est
Prefecture	Châlons-en-Champagne
Subprefectures	Épernay Reims Vitry-le-François
Government
• President of the Departmental Council	Christian Bruyen[1]
Area 1
• Total	8,162 km2 (3,151 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]
• Total	564,107
• Rank	45th
• Density	69/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	FR-51
Department number	51
Arrondissements	4
Cantons	23
Communes	613
^1 French Land Register data, which excludeestuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km2

TheChampagne vineyards producing the eponymous sparkling wine are in Marne.

The department is named after theMarne, which was calledMatrona inRoman times.

Marne is one of the original 83 departments created during theFrench Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from the province ofChampagne.

Marne has a long association with theFrench Army. The training ground of theCamp Militaire de Mailly straddles the border with the département of Aube in the south while that of theCamp de Mourmelon occupies a large area north ofChâlons-en-Champagne. The smallerCamp de Moronvilliers lies to the east of Reims and theCamp Militaire de Suippes lies to the east of that. These are all located on the chalk grounds of the Champagne plateau, a feature comparable in geology but not size, with the British military training ground onSalisbury Plain.

TheBattles of the Marne, where the British and French fought against Germany duringWorld War I, took place here.

Marne is part of theregion ofGrand Est and is surrounded by the departments ofArdennes,Meuse,Haute-Marne,Aube,Seine-et-Marne, andAisne.

Geologically, it divides into two distinct parts; theUpper Cretaceouschalk plain in the east and the more wooded and hillyEocene andOligocene in the west.

Rivers draining the department include theMarne,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, theAube joins theSeine in the department of Marne.

The most populous commune in the department isReims; the prefectureChâlons-en-Champagne is the second-most populous. As of 2019, there are five communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants:^[3]

The inhabitants of the department are calledMarnais.

Population development since 1801:

The president of the Departmental Council is Christian Bruyen, elected in 2017.

Reims, with its cathedral in which thekings of France weretraditionally crowned, is a major attraction. Others include the bird reserve on theLake Der-Chantecoq and the fishing lakes nearby. TheParc Naturel Régional de la Montagne de Reims is a major area of country recreation. In the west of the département there are many scenic routes as also are the several wine cellars ofÉpernay.

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  ThePorte de Mars inReims, atriumphal arch from the third century AD.
•  
  Cathedral of Reims where thekings of France weretraditionally crowned
•  
  Vineyards nearÉpernay
•  
  Champagne bottles
•  
  Valmy Battlefield
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  Notre-Dame-en-Vaux collegiate church inChâlons-en-Champagne

• Arrondissements of the Marne department
• Cantons of the Marne department
• Champagne Riots
• Communes of the Marne department
• French wine

• (in French)Prefecture website
• (in French)Departmental Council website
• (in English and French)Official Tourist Board