Article written by Elisa
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Most people associate France with rolling hills covered with vineyards and wineries producing fine wines, but this country has much more to offer! The Normandy region is the proud owner of stunning orchards, distilleries, and delicious spirits, especially along the so-called “La Route du Cidre.”
The Normandy Cider Route is a unique route located east of Caen in the Calvados department. Winding through the landscape of the Pays d’Auge, this route is dotted by pretty villages, majestic manors, and cider-makers and distilleries where you can stop to learn all about local spirits. The Cider Route Normandy brings together about twenty producers, and they are indicated by the panels “Cru de Cambremer.”
If you are looking for unique French road trips, check out this Normandy Cider Route itinerary one day for a fantastic time in this beautiful part of France.
Pommeau, Calvados, and Cider from Normandy
When venturing along the Cider Route, you will come across many producers who don’t only sell the famous cider but also Calvados and Pommeau. Here’s what to know before taking the Normandy Cider Route.
Apple Cider (AOC Cidre du Pays d’Auge)
Although you can find different styles of apple cider in the area, with more or less sugar, only the semi-dry cider is AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controllée). This is characterized by a residual sugar content of 28-42 g/litre.
The resulting drink has a color that ranges from golden-yellow to orange-yellow, with a complex aroma that varies depending on the apples used to make it.
At the mouth, this Cidre du Pays d’Auge AOC is round, fruity, slightly bitter but with no acid, and sparkling. Usually, Cidre AOP Pays d’Auge has around 4-5% alcohol.
Calvados
Calvados is an apple brandy. One of the most famous French drinks, this “eau-de-vie” is made from the double distillation of cider from Normandy.
The process of double distillation consists of two successive heating in a traditional copper pot called “alambic.” The first one boils cider and gives the “brouillis” with an alcohol content ranging between 28 and 30 degrees. The second heating distillates that same brouillis again to obtain the “bonne chauffe” which alcohol content must be under 72 degrees out of the still. The future Calvados Pays d’Auge will be made from this eau-de-vie. During both operations, the “heads” – the first parts of the distillate – and the “tails” – the last parts – are discarded to retain only the “heart.”
Following the double distillation, the eaux-de-vie are poured in French oak barrels. The wood’s tannins will slowly blend with the fruity aromas of the calvados, giving it a subtle hue of gold and amber. This natural alchemy can last up to 40 years.
The longer it is left to age inside the casks, the smoother Calvados become to drink. However, unlike wine, Calvados stops aging once it is bottled.
On the palate, Calvados have an intense but silky taste with a hint of bitterness. Calvados can be served as an ingredient of cocktails or as a digestive.
Pommeau
Pommeau is a very popular Norman apéritif. It is made by blending Calvados with cider-apple juice.
To make Pommeau, the cider-apple juice must be mixed with Calvados before fermentation and then put in oak casks to age for at least three years.
With a lovely amber color, Pommeau has an exuberantly fruity, fresh, and light taste, also boasting an aroma of baked apples and brown sugar.
To properly appreciate this drink, Pommeau must be served chilled, at a temperature of 8°C to 10°C.
Normandy Cider Route Overview
- Start: Caen
- Finish: Honfleur
- Duration: 1 day
- Suggested Route:
- Total distance: 90 km, 1 hour 10 minutes
- Regions covered: Normandie
- Best for: sightseeing, cider tasting.
The majority of the “Cru de Cambremer” producers are located around the town of Cambremer, and all offer tastings you can do during the drive on the Cider Route.
Although this Cider Route itinerary takes only one day, I recommend spending 3 days in the area so you can also visit Caen and Honfleur. I will also give you more ideas on how to extend your Calvados and cider explorations at the end of the article.
Cider Route Normandy – Map
Click here to view this Normandy Cider Route itinerary on Google
Normandy Cider Route Itinerary by Car
This suggested road trip along the Cider Route starts in Caen and ends in Honfleur, as this is how we did it. However, feel free to do it the other way around if it is most convenient for you. The cider-makers suggested along this Cider Route are very different, which makes the journey more interesting.
You can easily reach Caen from Paris by train, but you will need a car to venture along the Cider Route. If, like us, you don’t have one, I suggest checking out the website DiscoverCars to rent one, which allows you to compare prices from the best car rental companies and pre-book your vehicle. Click here for our best tips for renting a car in France.
Something else to remember when driving along the Cider Route is that the distilleries and cider-makers are identified by the “Cru de Cambremer” sign and that some require advance booking.
This Normandy Cider Route itinerary takes one day. However, both Caen and Honfleur are interesting cities to visit in Normandy, so you can easily extend this itinerary by two or three extra days. Sleeping in Caen the night before taking the Cider Route will allow you to start driving earlier and fit in more places along the route. We could pick up our rental car in Caen at 8:00 a.m.
Day 0 | Arrival in Caen
Book one night at the Best Western Plus Le Moderne, which is super central and offers comfortable rooms and an excellent breakfast. Its private parking will be very useful for your Cider Route road trip – Click here to book your room at the Best Western Plus Le Moderne.
If you arrive early enough to visit the city, here are the best things to do in Caen.
Day 1, Stop 1 | Bevron-en-Auge
After an early breakfast, hop in your car and get ready to drive the Cider Route. The first stop of this itinerary is the picturesque village of Beuvron-en-Auge, a 30-minute drive from Caen.
As one of the most beautiful villages in Normandy, Beuvron-en-Auge features perfectly maintained half-timbered houses that date back to the 17th century and for which Normandy is famous.
Enjoy a leisurely walk through the center of the village, appreciating the pretty square with its flowers, many artisan shops, and a covered market.
Another attraction I suggest checking out is the Church of Saint Martin, built in the typical Normandy architectural style.
After spending one hour in Beuvron-en-Auge, take to the road again to reach the first cidermaker.
Day 1, Stop 2 | Calvados Pierre Huet
In just 15 minutes, you will be at the family-owned estate Pierre Huet, one of the biggest producers of Cider, Calvados, and Pommeau in the area. The Huet family has been in the cider business since 1865, and they are well-organized to welcome tourists to their property.
The guided visits are given in French or English, and they consist of a walk through the orchards before stepping inside the distillery, where the guide will illustrate how the drinks are made. Finally, it will be time for the tastings, where you will have the opportunity to appreciate the richness of the Pays d’Auge spirits.
The guided visit costs 3.50€ fee per person (2024) and includes several tastings, while it is free for those under 15.
Address: 5 Avenue des Tilleuls, Cambremer
For information and bookings: https://www.calvados-huet.com/
Day 1, Stop 3 | Lunch in Cambremer
After the visit, you will probably be hungry. Drive for a few minutes, and you will find yourself in Cambremer. I suggest you stop for lunch at the Le P’tit Normand or L’Authentic.
Le P’tit Normand (Place de l’Église, Cambremer) serves hearty traditional food with a gourmet twist that perfectly pairs with local drinks. This restaurant is very popular, so it is essential that you reserve your table in advance.
If, like us, you prefer a quicker and lighter meal, head to L’Authentic (3 Rue du Commerce), a quirky bistro with simple but delicious food and fast service (but not fast food).
This picture was taken at Place de l’Eglise. From here, you can see Le P’tit Normand (the house on the corner) while L’Authentic is on my back, so it is impossible to get lost!
GOOD TO KNOW: In Cambremer, there’s Les Jardins du Pays d’Auge remarkable garden (paid entrance), but it was closed when we were in town. That said, the weather in Normandy that day did not call for a stroll in the gardens. Don’t forget your rain jacket in Normandy, even in August!
Day 1, Stop 4 | Ferme de la Vallée au Tanneur
Next, stop at the lovely Ferme de la Vallée au Tanneur. This is a family farm that produces cider, Calvados, and Pommeau, among others. Being a farm, this place also has Norman dairy cows in the 12-hectare orchards, whose milk is used to make Pays d’Auge non-pasteurized cheeses.
The experience you will have here differs greatly from the one at Pierre Huet, so I suggest visiting it.
As soon as you arrive at Ferme de la Vallée au Tanneur, you will be welcomed by one of the family members, who will introduce you to their estate through an introductory video. Then, you will be free to explore the cellar before the tastings, which are free.
The overall atmosphere at the farm is friendly, but please note that the English spoken is very basic. But they are kind, all smile, and the video in English does the trick.
Here, we bought a bottle of Cidre Brut (not AOC Cidre Pays d’Auge, but delicious anyway!).
Address: La Vall. aux Tanneurs, 14340 Repentigny, France
Opening hours: Daily, from April 15 to September 15, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. No need of advance booking.
For information: https://www.facebook.com/valleeautanneur/?locale=fr_FR
Day 1, Stop 5 | Calvados Père Magloire
Calvados Père Magloire L’Expérience is set in the former cellar of the oldest Calvados House. The Musée du Père Magloire won a silver medal in the tourism category at the International Spiritual Challenge and is one of the finest vineyard tours in the world.
Immerse yourself in a multi-sensory journey to discover the history of the Calvados region and the elaboration of its most famous drink, from the magnificent orchards of Normandy to the pleasures of tasting.
At the end of the tour, which can be taken in English, French, Spanish, and German, you can taste three Calvados from their famous Houses (Père Magloire – Boulard and Lecompte), their Calvados-based aperitifs and/or a delicious local apple juice.
Address: Route de Trouville, Pont l’Evêque
Click here for information and bookings
This distillery is very close to Pont l’Evêque, another pretty village in Normandy that you can visit at the end of the tour.
Day 1, Stop 6 | Honfleur
Although not part of it, Honfleur is a beautiful city located at the end of the Normandy Cider Route, so I find it the perfect place to finish this 1-day road trip.
With stunning half-timbered houses, a picturesque port, and a fascinating cultural heritage, it’s hard not to fall in love with Honfleur! If you are curious to know more about this beautiful city, check out this article about the best things to do in Honfleur.
If you have time, spend a full day in Honfleur, as it is one of the best places to visit in Northern France. We had a lovely stay at Hotel L’Ecrin, located a 5-minute walk from the Old Port. A former private mansion, the hotel boasts a lovely garden where you can have breakfast, a pool, and private parking to leave your car.
Another place to stay that we considered is La Cour Sainte Cathérine, a former convent from the 17th century converted into a charming B&B. Unfortunately, no rooms were available for our dates, and it is easy to understand why when you look at the pictures.
Other Cider Producers to Visit along the Cider Route
On the Cider Route, there are over 20 cider producers you can choose to stop at. If you have more than one day to drive along this bucolic landscape, check out these other Cru de Cambremer estates and farms to walk around apple trees and taste delicious spirits.
Where to Stay along the Cider Route
As soon as you set foot on the Cider Route, you’ll never want to leave! So, why spend one night (or more) in this charming rural area to soak up its incredible atmosphere? Here’s a list of some very nice places to stay along the Cider Route, Normandy:
- Maisons d’hôtes – Domaine Le Coq Enchanté (Cambremer)
- Locations – Domaine Le Coq Enchanté (Cambremer)
- Les Marronniers (Cambremer)
So, what are you waiting for? Book this Normandy Cider Route road trip today!