You start this route in Pont-l'Evèque at Restaurant Les Tonneaux, which also has a spacious car park. This is close to the A13 (Autoroute de Normandie) and A132 junctions. Right in front of the restaurant is the Museum Calvados Experience Pierre Magloire. Spirit France is a global producer of calvados and the owner of 4 major alcohol brands. The company decided to give the “Père Magloire” buildings along the Route de Trouville on the outskirts of Pont-l'Évêque a make-over so that the whole world can discover Normandy through its successful product: calvados.
A sensory trail traces the history of the nectar of the gods. Calvados Experience is a tourist attraction where visitors discover calvados in fun themed rooms where the history of the drink is told and you can taste calvados.
Pont-l'Evèque has the charming appearance of a typical Norman village, including half-timbered houses. But it is also the name giver of a delicious creamy cheese that you, as a cheese lover, cannot ignore.

In Repentigny you follow the 'Cider route' of the Pays d'Auge for about 30 kilometers and travel through the small Augerons villages: Cambremer, Beuvron en Auge, Beaufour, Bonnebosq, Grandouet, Rumesnil, Victot-Pontfol, St Aubin -Lebizay, La Roque Baignard, Druval, Crevecoeur and Auge ... The orchards are surrounded by hedges that add to the beauty of the landscape.
Producing cider is a traditional craft that is similar to the wine production process. Various apple varieties are used to give the cider their special flavor. The alcohol percentage varies between 3.5% and 5%, depending on how long the must remains in the barrels. After fermenting for several months, it is ready to be drunk.
Built on the initiative of the abbey's monks between the 11th and 16th centuries, the imposing medieval hall of Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives is one of the jewels of Norman medieval heritage. It is one of the largest in France thanks to its 70 meters in length and 20 meters in width. Authentic Monday morning markets and various annual markets are still organized. A beautiful oak frame crowns the whole. Damaged by the bombings of the Second World War, it was restored and inaugurated in 1949 in accordance with medieval construction techniques.

When entering Mont-Ormel you can have lunch in the Restaurant de Mont-Ormel. Everything is locally sourced and cooked to perfection with excellent service. The views are breathtaking and the dining room conveyed the rustic charm of the area.

The Mémorial Montormel of Falaise. It was right on the site of the memorial that the powerful German war machine deployed in Normandy finally collapsed between 18 and 22 August 1944. Montgomery would call this battle "the beginning of the end of the war." As testament to the efforts of four Allied nations to defeat a common enemy, the Memorial offers an unforgettable plunge into the hell of the Battle of Normandy. Its discovery constitutes an emotional and educational experience of rare significance.

Small country roads meander slowly through a landscape full of cows and apple orchards. Cows, you immediately think of cheese. Not without reason, the Calvados is home to one of the most famous cheeses in the world: camembert, a soft cheese made from cow's milk. The famous blue cheese is produced in the village of Camembert of the same name, according to an age-old recipe from local monks. In 1791 during the French Revolution and a short distance from here in the country house of Beaumoncel, Camembert was born of an encounter between a grumpy priest and Marie Harel - a farmer living in the Auge. In the heart of the village of Camembert, a late 18th / early 19th century building has been restored to house the Maison de Camembert (RP 26). It offers a showcase for the most characteristic French cheeses and pays tribute to Marie Harel at the historic site where this great saga began.
A few kilometers further there is the Musée du Camembert in Vimoutiers. The museum has a collection of authentic materials from Augeron farms, dating back to the first half of the 19th century. These pieces are used in the museum to reconstruct a scenography that depicts the different stages of production of the real Camembert de Normandie AOP. The museum has a unique collection of Camembert labels. There are labels of Camembert that come from all over the world, as the name "Camembert de Normandie" dates back to 1987. In the past, any cheese maker could make Camembert. This unique collection makes it possible to trace not only the history of this cheese, but also the history itself, whether through countries, cultures or eras.

Just outside Vimoutiers you pass a Tiger tank. This is the last Tiger tank in Normandy. Left behind by the retreating German army, this Panzer was found in Vimoutiers. Probably the large machine had run out of fuel and therefore the crew had left the tank after attempting to disable it. For this they placed explosive charges on the engine deck and next to the gun turret. Several Tigers and Panthers were abandoned around Vimoutiers at the time. There are signs in the parking lot telling stories about this tank.

On the way to Lisieux, the road cuts through meadows and orchards that reach to the horizon. Horses graze in the soft grass. Normandy is the cradle of French horse breeding. Giant stud farms breed the most exclusive breeds, which are in great demand in the Middle East. The wealthy oil sheiks do not look at a few million euros more or less when it concerns a noble four-legged friend with quality at home. They even give these animals to their sons and daughters as birthday gifts.
You continue your way north, to the edge of the city. Lisieux is best known for its world-famous basilica, which annually attracts thousands of devotees who come to greet Saint Thérèse.
The Cathédrale Saint-Pierre of Lisieux was one of the first Gothic buildings in Normandy and is one of the few city monuments to survive the bombings of the Allies in 1944. Admire the rib vaults and flying buttresses of this 12th-century church, in addition to the Norman lantern tower and west exterior.
The Basilica Sainte-Thérèse is one of the largest religious buildings of the 20th century. The construction of the enormous basilica started in 1929. In 1937 the church building was consecrated by Pius XI. It is built in a Romanesque-Byzantine style. The dome is about 100 m high. Inside you can see beautiful marble and the mosaics are also worthwhile. Today Lisieux is the second largest pilgrimage site in France after Lourdes.

A final stop is for a visit to the Château de Breuil. The castle is located on the edge of a small village. You can't miss it, large signs welcome the visitor.
This pink-tiled castle was built in the 16th and 17th centuries and belonged to great noble families such as the Bouquetots, the Montgommerys, the young Tancrède de Rohan and the Bences. The distillery is located on the grounds of the castle and offers plenty of parking spaces. You can take a tour of the distillery. You will receive an explanation of the various steps in the process in both French and English. You can also take a look in the cellar where the barrels are resting. Definitely a must.

This route receives 5 stars. The Pays d'Auge looks like a postcard, so beautiful! A rural environment with beautiful villages, farms, typical half-timbered houses interspersed with apple orchards and special landscapes. Small country roads meander slowly through the landscape. The top point is perhaps the basilica of Lisieux, but a visit to a calvados distillery or Camembert museum also complete this route.