Camembert: The Village Where the Famous Cheese Was Invented TRAVELBOOK

October 17, 2025, 3:21 pm | Read time: 2 minutes

For many, Camembert is a staple on the breakfast or dinner table. But did you know there’s also a village with the same name that gave the popular cheese its name?

Not everyone knows that Camembert originates from a village of the same name in the French region of Normandy. The soft, white-mold cheese is so ingrained in everyday language. Today, any cheese product resembling Camembert can be called Camembert. However, only Camembert made from raw milk in Normandy is protected under the name “Camembert de Normandie.”

Camembert—Success Story from Normandy

Camembert village — The “real” Camembert is made from raw milk and has a stronger flavor

Allegedly, the farmer Marie Fontaine Harel, who came from Camembert in the Basse-Normandie region, first made a Camembert during the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century. The model was Brie. Whether the legend is true is not 100 percent proven, but it is certain that Camembert indeed comes from Normandy.

The ripening process of the soft-mold cheese takes at least three weeks, a science in itself. French Emperor Napoleon III loved the cheese and had it delivered exclusively from Normandy to the court. This initially helped Camembert gain popularity throughout France and later worldwide.

Camembert as a Travel Destination

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The village of Camembert, with fewer than 200 residents, is located in the heart of the province, about 50 kilometers from the city of Caen, 60 kilometers from Deauville, 80 kilometers from Arromanches, and more than 100 kilometers from Mont-Saint-Michel and Etretat. It can be reached by car or bus via the D 246 county road.

According to the culinary website “Gault Millaut Artisan,” the famous cheese is still made in the village by Fromagerie Durand as it was 200 years ago. Around 60 Norman cows provide the milk for this unique raw milk specialty, shaped with a ladle. Day-trippers can visit the cheese factory owned by Nadia and Francois Durand and taste the Camembert on-site.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TRAVELBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@travelbook.de.