Widely appreciated in Normandy, this sparkling drink has been entitled to its own celebration for 50 years. Review of the cider festival, this event not to be missed in the region.
“Beverage resulting from the fermentation of apple juice or a mixture of apples and pears, extracted with or without the addition of water”: this is how Larrousse defines cider. On the side of the town hall of Beuvron-en-Auge, the definition is a bit more poetic: “A clear effervescent drink of orange-yellow to golden color which presents a fine, white and persistent foam.” Each year, this beverage is in the spotlight during a one-of-a-kind event: the Cider Festival, in Beuvron-en-Auge.
The Cider Festival: entertainment
Here, cider products are in the spotlight every year. This celebration takes place over one day, generally in October, when the apple harvest ends.
During this day, you will be able to attend many workshops:
- Le pressing of apples from the communal orchard, place Michel Vermughen, with a large wine press. Possibility to leave with your freshly squeezed apple juice
- THEfloral art workshop and giant wooden games in the crafts area. A small press is available for children. They will also be able to leave with their homemade apple juice
- The encounter with local producers in the town of the village. Ciders, dairy products, vegetables, meats, fruits, organic, local or permaculture products are given pride of place
- Le pony baptism, proposed by the Picotains center
In 2022, an orchestra hosted the event. Enough to make you want to discover the shops of the village, where the traders have welcomed visitors to present their articles.
Cider, yes! But with what?
In France, it is customary to consume cider on a very specific occasion: the Galette des Rois. But in Normandy, there is not really any seasonality. It is drunk throughout the year, with a few local dishes to bring out the sweetness and sweetness of the drink. You can combine it for example with:
- Livarot, a typical regional cheese, coming from a village of the same name (Livarot-en-Auge). We opt for a raw cider.
- Seafood (mussels, gray shrimps) that you can buy on the Normandy fishermen's markets, such as the one in Dives-sur-Mer. Here, we will favor a semi-dry cider.
- Orange-based desserts, such as Norman fondant, for example. It can very well be accompanied by a sweet cider.
Is your favorite food not on the list above? Don't panic: very low in alcohol, the cider (sweet, semi-dry or dry raw) goes well with a multitude of dishes and sweets from the region - such as Pont-l'Évêque, blue eggs, madeleine or even the Coques of Cabourg. We had also drawn up a non-exhaustive list in a dedicated article.
Alcohol abuse is dangerous for health. To consume with moderation.
Beuvron-en-Auge: “Most Beautiful Villages in France”
Old manor, old inn and half-timbered houses: Beuvron-en-Auge is the heritage of several centuries in terms of architecture. It is therefore no surprise that he is among the Most Beautiful Villages of France and that we recommend it regularly to discover the beautiful region of the Pays d'Auge.
Places not to be missed in the picturesque city of Calvados:
- The village square, which sits in the heart of the historic center of Beuvron-en-Auge. It is surrounded by old houses, and bordered by the “Vieux Manoir”. What have the impression of diving into the decor of Beauty and the Beast.
- The Saint-Martin Church, built in 1640 and restored by the ASPECT association, which houses an XNUMXth century master hotele century, as well as a polyphonic organ signed Louis Debierre. You can also discover the presbytery and the cemetery, delicately planted with century-old yews.
- The three mansions (including the Manoir du Lieu Hocquart and the Manoir de la Hogue), built in the XNUMXe and XVIIthe centuries, all of which are classified Historical monuments.
- The former Boule d'Or inn, which dates from the XNUMXthe century.
- The halls of Beuvron-en-Auge, which have been restored in full respect of the construction techniques of yesteryear (with materials used in the old farms).
- La Maison du Haras, a sublime red stone building now transformed into a welcoming gîte.
And if this dreamlike walk in the heart of Beuvron-en-Auge, punctuated by cider tasting, made you happy, do not hesitate to discover the rest of the Pays d'Auge — which, like the whole region of Normandy, has many nuggets to offer.
