Cambremer is a rural village set among orchards and stud farms. Its defining features include the Jardins du Pays d’Auge and the Église Saint Denis, as well as the Route du Cidre, which starts in Cambremer. Garden culture, church history and regional produce offer different reasons to get to know the area. When choosing accommodation in Cambremer, you can start by considering which interests you most: themed gardens, historical details, producers or seasonal events.
Gardens and history in the village
The Jardins du Pays d’Auge hold the French “Jardin remarquable” label and cover three hectares. Their diverse themed planting areas include water gardens, rose gardens, perennials and collection plants. There is also a tool museum. The garden thus combines a range of botanical features with a collection devoted to tools.
In the Église Saint Denis, the Romanesque tower is the oldest part; it dates from the late 12th century. The church interior also includes 20th-century stained-glass windows and a painting of the Presentation in the Temple, inspired by Rubens. The garden and church offer different points of interest: themed planting areas and a tool museum in one, an older architectural feature and artworks from later centuries in the other. A free, smartphone-based audio-guided tour of Cambremer is available through the Izi Travel app.
The Route du Cidre and its producers
Cambremer is the starting point of the 40-kilometre Route du Cidre, which runs through the Pays d’Auge. The signposted route follows picturesque minor roads and takes you to around 20 producers. It is accessible from National Roads 13 and 175. The route thus combines a clearly marked journey through the Pays d’Auge with insights into local production and its products.
Producers along the route welcome visitors for cellar tours and tastings and explain their know-how. Visits depend on each producer’s availability, so check on tours or tastings before your trip. Cidres du Cru de Cambremer are considered lightly bitter and refreshing. At the Caves du Manoir de Grandouet, guided tours in French and English with tastings are offered. The product range includes AOP Pays d’Auge cider, Pays d’Auge Calvados, Pommeau de Normandie, apple juice and poiré. The cellars also feature a winery, a pot still and a 16th-century wooden-frame press. As the visitor programme may change, check tour availability in advance.
The Distillerie Pierre Huet is also associated with Cambremer: the Huet family has been producing and marketing Calvados, cider and Pommeau de Normandie there since 1865. The distillery estate includes 30 hectares of orchards. These details offer another perspective on the area’s products and orchards, without implying that the distillery can be visited.
Festivals and market dates
The events calendar offers further reasons to visit. The Festival des AOC/AOP de Cambremer takes place every year on the first weekend in May; check the exact dates before your trip. Hurlu Belles Rues is a street arts festival held every two years on the last weekend in July. Cambremer’s traditional market is scheduled for Sunday mornings at Easter and Pentecost, as well as in July and August.
The dates mark different points in the year: the AOC/AOP festival is on the calendar in May, while Hurlu Belles Rues takes place on the last weekend in July. The market and festivals may influence your choice of travel dates. Those primarily interested in gardens and historical details can explore these themes independently of a particular event date; if you plan to attend a festival, check its date for your trip.
Discover more destinations: Campandré-Valcongrain, Pont-Farcy, Cabourg, Lisores, Vassy, Basseneville, Houlgate, Saint-Jouin.
For the regional travel overview: Calvados.
