Normandy Cider & Calvados Tasting Near Our Gîte

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First published: October 2025

Normandy’s rolling orchards, fresh apples and centuries-old cider traditions make it a paradise for anyone who enjoys authentic local flavours. Staying at Ursula Gîte — our self-catering accommodation in Normandy, France — puts you right in the heart of the Manche region of Normandy, surrounded by family-run producers offering warm welcomes and delicious dégustations de cidre et Calvados.

Many guests travel to Normandy from the UK by ferry, arriving at ports like Cherbourg, Caen (Ouistreham) or Saint-Malo before continuing their journey into La Manche. From here, the countryside unfolds in apple orchards, quiet lanes and historic villages — the perfect landscape for food and cider lovers planning relaxed family holidays in Normandy.

🍎 Taste the Real Normandy Terroir

The Cotentin and Coutances region of Manche, France is known for its sweet and sparkling ciders, Pommeau, and rich Calvados aged in oak barrels. Many of the cideries near our gîte offer guided tours and tastings (dégustations) where you can meet the makers, see the presses and sample their award-winning blends.

Here are some of our favourite stops for a relaxed Normandy cider tasting day — all within easy reach of the gîte.

🍏 Cidre Lemasson – Cametours

Just a 10-minute drive from the gîte, Cidre Lemasson is an organic, family-run farm producing a range of traditional ciders and Calvados. Guided visits and tastings are available daily in summer (around 3 € per person, free for under-16s). You’ll taste several cuvées, including dry and semi-dry ciders, and learn how Damien Lemasson crafts his small-batch production using local apple varieties.

Try: Cidre Brut, Cidre Demi-Sec and Calvados AOC – perfect to pair with local cheeses.

📍 Cametours – approx. 10 min drive

🥃 Calvados Fouchard – Ouville

For a more spirited tasting, visit Calvados Fouchard in Ouville, about 20 minutes away. This family farm distils its own Calvados, Pommeau and cider from orchard to bottle. Tastings and cellar visits are offered year-round, with an introduction to the double-distillation process and ageing in oak casks. The friendly hosts love to share their passion and history.

Try: Pommeau de Normandie, Calvados Réserve 10 ans and sparkling cider.

📍 Ouville – approx. 20 min drive

⚠️ A note on the local “calva”

Across rural Normandy, many farmers produce a strong apple eau-de-vie affectionately called “calva”. It’s the ancestor of official Calvados and usually distilled in small stills kept on the farm. While it’s completely legal to make for personal use, it’s illegal to transport it anywhere off the premises where it is produced. Locals enjoy a glass after a long meal — but always at home! If you’re lucky enough to be offered a taste, sip slowly, appreciate the craftsmanship, and remember that after a glass or two you won’t be going anywhere anyway.

🍎 What is Pommeau?

Pommeau de Normandie is another regional treasure, made by blending half freshly pressed apple juice (cider) with half Calvados — or sometimes the farmer’s own “calva” — then ageing the mix in oak barrels. The result tastes like a mellow sherry with an apple twist — smooth, slightly sweet and wonderfully aromatic. It’s perfect served chilled as an aperitif or paired with dessert.

🌿 La Minoterie – Domaine Laure Sourdin (Quettreville-sur-Sienne)

La Minoterie is a charming cider house set in a restored mill beside the river Sienne, 15 minutes from the gîte. Here you can sample cider, poiré (pear cider) and Pommeau in a peaceful garden setting. In summer, the estate hosts tastings with local tapas boards — a perfect family-friendly option for a sunny afternoon.

Try: Poiré La Minoterie and Cidre Brut de Sienne – refreshing, lightly sparkling and authentic.

📍 Quettreville-sur-Sienne – approx. 15 min drive

☕ Les Pipelettes – Coutances

In the heart of Coutances, next to the historic Jardin des Plantes – one of Normandy’s oldest botanical gardens – you’ll find Les Pipelettes, a cosy salon de thé and cider cellar (cave à cidre). It’s a perfect stop during a day in town: enjoy a tasting flight of local ciders, an afternoon crêpe or a cup of tea in this delightful spot.

📍 Coutances – 5 min drive / 10 min cycle from the gîte

🚗 Make It a Cider Day from the Gîte

Start your tasting trail right after breakfast and follow quiet country lanes through the apple orchards. You can easily combine two or three cideries in one day, with a picnic stop or lunch in Coutances. Each producer offers a unique experience — from rustic barns and working distilleries to elegant tasting rooms.

Many guests include this as part of their Normandy holidays self-catering experience, exploring nearby villages, markets and coastal viewpoints. Designated drivers can pick up bottles to enjoy later back at the gîte, where our kitchen and private garden make the perfect setting for an evening dégustation de cidre Normandie.

🗺️ The Normandy Cider Route

If you want to discover even more of Normandy’s apple-growing heritage, follow the famous Normandy Cider Route (Route du Cidre). This official 40 km signposted trail runs through the Pays d’Auge region, between Lisieux and Cambremer, about 1½ hours from our gîte. It links around 20 traditional cider farms and Calvados distilleries, many offering tastings, guided visits and cellar shops filled with local produce.

While our local Manche cideries offer a quieter, more authentic countryside experience, a day trip along the Cider Route Normandy is one of the most enjoyable tourist attractions in Normandy, France. You’ll find everything from crisp sparkling Normandy cider to complex oak-aged Calvados. The drive itself is a pleasure — winding lanes, half-timbered houses and apple orchards stretching as far as you can see.

Whether you explore the official route or simply enjoy tastings close to the gîte, every glass tells the story of Normandy’s orchards, traditions and way of life.

🧭 Tips for Your Tasting Experience

• 📅 Check opening hours — some farms close mid-day or require reservations outside summer.
• 🚗 Allow time to explore nearby villages and viewpoints along the cider route.
• 🥂 Don’t miss the local specialties: Pommeau de Normandie and Calvados AOC.
• 🔋 If driving an EV, we include a list of local charger points in your Welcome Guide when you book.

🌳 Why Stay at Ursula Gîte

Our gîte is perfectly located for a relaxing Normandy gite rental in the heart of La Manche. It’s an ideal base for family holidays in Normandy, Normandy short breaks or food lovers exploring things to do in Normandy. Within 30 minutes you can tour three award-winning producers, visit the botanical gardens in Coutances and return for a peaceful evening in the countryside.

Book direct for your next holiday rental in Normandy — a true taste of Normandy, from orchard to glass.

Ready to explore Normandy?