Route de Cidre 2010

We had visited this fantastic area of France in 2009, however this time we had more time to explore the cidrerie’s we didn’t visit the last time.

This time we enjoyed cider with our fish and crepes whilst camping in Brittany. Cider is also made here in south western France, in the French part of the Basque Country. It is a traditional drink there and is making a recovery. Ciders produced here are generally of the style seen in the Spanish part of the Basque Country. Also cider is generally served in traditional ceramic bowls (or wide cups) rather than glasses.

Bretagne Cider Mug with local poire (perry)

We visited the Du Pont cidrerie where it wasn’t just the cider that was fantastic, the chateau and the estate are well cared for, and being there just before the harvest to see the fruit. A real treat. The Du Pont’s are experimental in their cider making, bringing in new apples to blend with more traditional local apples – resulting in a refined taste and numerous awards from their knowledge and expertise in their industry. They are the only Ice Cider producer in France!

We also visited Pierre Huet in Cambremer who look like they are rapidly expanding with the increasing interest and tourism to the village with a new visitor centre and shop. Cambremer is a picturesque and peacefull village whatever time of year you visit, and the heart of the Route de Cidre area.

As we were staying near Houlgate, we also learnt about the regular farmers market at Dives Sur Mer. Shopping in the traditional Tuesday market in Dives is quite an event, not least because it all takes place inside the spectacular timbered halls with a red-tiled roof, built in the 15th century so that the local monastery could levy market taxes.

Here you will find a range of local ciders, bread, cheeses, honeys and meat on offer.  The french certainly have an unrivalled passion for superior food and drink which is not hard to see when you visit this enchanting region of North France.

The photographs below show all the places we visited during our visit: