The Cider Route is found in Normandy, and following its course makes for a pleasant day or two exploring some of the Normandy villages, and discovering how and where in Normandy cider is made. Cider tasting is of course obligatory!
Meanwhile you will also see some lovely Normandy Villages, and for many people this is the main reason for following the route.
Normandy has some of the most attractive rural architecture to be found in France, set in beautiful quiet countryside. Especially typical to the region are the many medieval colombage (half-timbered) houses, many of which are now surrounded by carefully tended gardens.
The route
The cider route is a clearly signed route, approximately 40 kilometres long, that passes the producers of the "AOC Pays d'Auge" cider. You can see how cider is made, taste it and buy it.
The signs for the route are clearly marked ("Route du Cidre" and a picture of an apple) and are easily followed.
The route passes from village to village, producer to producer, through narrow lanes in the beautiful Normandy countryside. The cider producers who are part of the route are marked as "Cru de Cambremer".
Start your journey at Cambremer (35 kilometres east of Caen).
Recommended detour: at five kilometres from Cambremer you can visit the lovely Chateau de Crèvecoeur-en-Auge, a moated chateau with medieval walls and some attractive colombage architecture.
The cider route then continues through Grandouet, Montreuil-en-Auge, St-Ouen-le-Pin, La Roque-Baignard, Bonnebosq, Beaufour-Druval, Saint-Aubin-Lébizay, Beuvron-en-Auge, Hotot-en-Auge, Victot-Pontfol and Rumesnil before returning to your start point at Cambremer.
The cider
The ciders qualifying for the AOC are marked as Cidre de Cambremer. To qualify, the cider must be made following strict regulations, according to traditional techniques - the AOC (Appellation d'origine contrôlée)regulations for cider are applied as strictly as those for wine).
You will usually find Pommeau (a Normandy aperitif) and Calvados (a Normandy liquer) at the same producers.
Other selected Normandy highlights
While the Normandy Cider route is a good introduction to the region and will introduce you to some lovely villages and scenery we suggest you also enjoy some of the other highlights the region has to offer.
Normandy also has the world-renowned Mont-Saint-Michel, and some nice beaches and coastal ports, for example at Deauville and Trouville, and also nearby Honfleur (Honfleur being the most attractive of the three).
Mont-Saint-Michel is in the south of Normandy towards Brittany, but you might well like to allocate a day to visiting it (it is one of the most visited destinations in France).
Most visitors to Normandy also like to visit the Normandy Landing Beaches and Bayeux (above all to see the Bayeux tapestry).