Camembert de Normandie takes its name from the village of Camembert. If you are looking for accommodation in Camembert, the history of cheese, its production and the village’s religious heritage offer three distinct ways to shape your choice of location. The Maison du Camembert, two cheese dairies and the Church of Notre-Dame et Sainte-Anne provide specific points of interest, from changes in cheese production to religious art in the village.
Cheese History at the Maison du Camembert
The Maison du Camembert is located in an authentic 18th-century Norman farmhouse. The museum explores the history of the famous Norman cheese and the secrets of its production through the ages. The exhibition traces its journey from traditional production on Norman farms to today’s cheese dairies, connecting the history of the cheese with changes in its production. At the end of the visit, a plate of three pieces of Camembert is offered, allowing visitors to compare pasteurised, thermised and raw-milk Camembert. As this visitor offering may change, check before your trip whether the tasting plate is still available.
Cheese Dairies and a Look at Production
In the village centre, the Fromagerie de Beaumoncel produces hand-ladled farmstead Camembert de Normandie AOP. The Fromagerie Durand makes raw-milk Camembert AOP in the village of Camembert and also shapes it with a ladle. Beaumoncel focuses on farmstead production and the Camembert de Normandie AOP designation; at Durand, raw milk and ladle-shaping are part of the production process.
Durand also offers a self-guided tour along an outdoor gallery. From there, visitors can see the moulding room, the salting room and the maturing rooms. The shop sells cheese and cream made on site, as well as local products. Tours and sales offerings may change; check what is currently available before your trip.
Church and Religious Art
The Church of Notre-Dame et Sainte-Anne dates mainly from the 16th century. Its rectangular structure is made of limestone and rubble stone, and a slate-roofed tower rises above the west façade. The church also houses a painted wooden work from the 16th century entitled “Education de la Vierge.”
Another painting was created by Pingard in 1772. It commemorates the pilgrimage made by the parish confraternity of Camembert to Mont-Saint-Michel on 24 September 1772. The architecture, religious art and memory of this pilgrimage offer different insights into the village’s history.
Cycling Around Camembert
Two routes also give your stay a concrete connection to cycling. The 26 km circular route “A vélo – Pays du Camembert” runs between Vimoutiers and the village of Camembert, following in the footsteps of Marie Harel. The “Vélo et Fromages de Camembert à Livarot” route also starts in Camembert. This offers a choice between a named circular route and a route that starts in the village. Check current route information before setting out, as route details and conditions may change.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Aubin-Des-Grois, Briouze, Bellou-En-Houlme, Saint-Denis-Sur-Huisne, Vieux-Pont, Lignou, Pervenchères, Dancé.
For the main travel overview: Orne.
