Camembert cheese is one of the most famous and popular of the French cheeses and is produced in the North West of the country in Normandy. Traditional Camembert cheese is made from the fresh raw milk of Norman cows which graze on the rich Pays d’Auge grass scattered with fallen apples. Production time takes three weeks and the end product is a luscious, buttery cheese with a thin, edible, aromatic rind offering a robust and complex flavour.

Origins of this soft and creamy cheese are not completely reliable. Legend has it, that Camembert was first invented in 1791 by a farmers wife, Marie Harel who lived in the small village of Camembert in Normandy.

The village itself dates back to the dark ages and is perched on a hill top amidst the Pays d’Auge and Viette river. A certain "Mambert", became the owner of a large piece of land. This area became known as "Champ de Mambert", during the Middle Ages and later the name was transformed to "Camembert".

Marie Harel was reputedly given the ‘secret’ recipe by a priest from the region of Brie, Abbe Charles-Jean Bonvoust, who was seeking refuge at the Harel’s chapel on the Beaumoncel farm during the French Revolution.

Although this is a nice theory, it is more likely that the Camembert of today was crafted long before the French Revolution. Writings dating back to 1554 refer to ‘Augeron cheeses’ and other documentation dated 1708 mentions the ‘cheeses of Camembert’.

Camembert cheese conquered Paris and the rest of France during the 19th century with the invention of the rail road. It wasn’t until 1890 when an engineer by the name of Ridel invented the small wooden boxes Camembert is sold in today. These wooden boxes enabled the cheese to be exported around the world.

Situated just 60 miles east from the village of Camembert, is the beautifully restored Chateau de Houetteville in the Eure region of Normandy. This historic building offers its guests the perfect French retreat including the Grand Salon with its large sofas, open log fire and honesty bar plus a choice of luxury en-suite rooms all named after famous French historic characters.

A drive from Chateau de Houetteville to Camembert would make for a wonderful day trip and the chance to explore the idyllic French countryside and quaint little villages on the way. Camembert has a host of attractions for cheese enthusiasts including the House of Camembert which opened its doors in 1992 and holds a number of exhibitions and events. There is also the Marie Harel monument and the Beaumoncel Manor and Farm where Marie lived and worked.

For further information about the Chateau de Houetteville and how you can enjoy the delights of Normandy, email info@lechateauplus.com