The Chateau du Breuil, Calvados distillery in Le Breuil-en-Auge, Normandy

Le Breuil-en-Auge – Chateau du Breuil and Calvados Distillery

Built: 16th century
Status: Private
Visitable?: Yes, for a fee, gardens and distillery
Notable: Calvados distillery
Web: Chateau du Breuil

Located in the midst of the Calvados region (Normandy) you will find a pretty castle, the Chateau du Breuil, that has been since 1954 a distillery that transforms apples into Calvados (an apple brandy). Located in a 1000 people village, Le Breuil-en-Auge, the castle lies on the road leading to Lisieux.

The castle was built in the beginning of the 16th century and has been a cheese maker, chocolate and even an apple cider producer. Although the castle is private and can NOT be visited, you can see it clearly, and up close, when visiting the distillery.

Barrels of the Chateau du Breuil calvados distillery
Barrels of the Chateau du Breuil calvados distillery

That is because the distillery and castle grounds can be visited for €4.50 (including a sample of the product). You need to take a tour (you can not walk there by yourself), and tours can be done in French, English and German.

Chateau du Breuil calvados distillery factory
Chateau du Breuil calvados distillery factory

Even before you start the tour, you need to pass by the factory itself before parking your car. This is where the apples get stored and washed. You can see a pile of apples on your right on the photo.

Information, shop and restaurant of the Chateau du Breuil calvados distillery
Information, shop and restaurant of the Chateau du Breuil calvados distillery

Then you need to go to the two buildings that house the guides, shop, sampling bar (yes, you get to sample the calvados) and there is even a restaurant where you can eat food prepared with calvados.

The Chateau du Breuil, Calvados distillery in Le Breuil-en-Auge, Normandy
The Chateau du Breuil, Calvados distillery in Le Breuil-en-Auge, Normandy

When you start your tour, you’ll be walking past the castle, but the building will be seen closer and from a better angle later on.

Lake and rivers used at the Chateau du Breuil calvados distillery
Lake and rivers used at the Chateau du Breuil calvados distillery

Making calvados (and cider) requires a lot of water, which is in abundance here.

Calvados distillery of the Chateau du Breuil
Calvados distillery of the Chateau du Breuil

You will be taken into the distillery itself where they will explain the process of making the calvados.

They make some 400,000 bottles of calvados per year, and export to 52 countries. The Netherlands is their number 1 export country.

Main gate of the Chateau du Breuil, Calvados distillery in Le Breuil-en-Auge, Normandy
Main gate of the Chateau du Breuil, Calvados distillery in Le Breuil-en-Auge, Normandy

You are then taken past the castle entrance. On the left you see this building:

Calvados storage building of the Chateau du Breuil, Calvados distillery in Le Breuil-en-Auge, Normandy
Calvados storage building of the Chateau du Breuil, Calvados distillery in Le Breuil-en-Auge, Normandy

This is the part of the castle that is used to store the distilled calvados.

Storage barrels of the Chateau du Breuil calvados distillery
Storage barrels of the Chateau du Breuil calvados distillery

The apple brandy is stored in enormous barrels, rows and rows of them.

Storage barrels of the Chateau du Breuil calvados distillery
Storage barrels of the Chateau du Breuil calvados distillery

The barrels have dates on them for when they will be ready. The one above will be ready in the year 2041….

Roof of calvados storage at the Chateau du Breuil distillery
Roof of calvados storage at the Chateau du Breuil distillery

The roof of the building is like the Sainte-Catherine church in Honfleur: an upside down boat (that was the only way they knew how to build in those days).

Drawbridge Calvados of the Chateau du Breuil, Calvados distillery in Le Breuil-en-Auge, Normandy
Drawbridge Calvados of the Chateau du Breuil, Calvados distillery in Le Breuil-en-Auge, Normandy

On the way back you will able to see more details of the castle, like in the beginning there used to be a drawbridge and moat here…

The Chateau du Breuil and distant lake, Calvados distillery in Le Breuil-en-Auge, Normandy
The Chateau du Breuil and distant lake, Calvados distillery in Le Breuil-en-Auge, Normandy

You can also see that the river shown in one of the photos above culminates into a lake.

Summary

This is a nice and short visit. If you are driving to see the basilica of Lisieux, you will be passing by the castle. The visit itself lasts 30 minutes and it costs €4.50 and it includes a free sample of their calvados.

It’s time well spent.

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