Eat Your Way Through France on This Cheese-inspired Road Trip
ByEllie Nan Storck on November 20, 2018
There’s something to be said about taking oneself out to the local market, selecting a trio of fine cheeses, picking out the fancy crackers, and splurging on a good bottle of red.
Bring the spread home, take your time tasting each one. Absorb the flavors. Let it transport you. The only thing better than this—an evening of fine cheeses enjoyed in the comforts of one’s home—is a cheese tour.
Yes, that’s right. Imagine packing up your bags, buying a plane ticket, and making off for Europe to explore the very best cheese destinations in France. Better yet? Make it a road trip. Below, we’ve rounded up the seven best French destinations—the creme de la creme, if you will—where the discerning fromageophile will find an indubitable cheesy paradise. Read on, and prepare to make a mad dash for your local cheese shop to tide you over until your trip. Bon voyage, et bon appétit!
Courtesy Laurent DuBois
Paris
As if anyone needs an excuse to go to Paris—but we will give you one. If you’re on the hunt for some of the best French cheese out there, the City of Lights is a good starting point, even though it’s not exactly a hub for cheesemaking; there are plenty of top-tier fromageries that source from nearby regions, and have been serving the city loyally for decades. Head straight to one of France’s finest cheesemongers, Fromagerie Quatrehomme, which has been around since 1953 (the store is currently run by fourth generation cheesemongers, it’s a real family affair). Another can’t-miss maison du fromage is the award-winning Laurent DuBois, known for drawing so many customers on weekends that lines actually wrap around the block.
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Ile de France
For those who love brie there are not one but two regions known for producing this smooth, mild soft cheese that goes well with just about anything. Just north of Paris by about 25 miles you’ll come across Meaux and Melun, both of which have been producing brie for centuries.
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Normandy
Southern Normandy is home to Camembert: the village and the cheese. Nothing quite compares to that soft-ripened, creamy, delectable cow’s milk fromage that is sold in more markets in France than any other cheese. Here, you can visit La Maison du Camembert to learn about the history, and also explore Le manoir de Beaumoncel, the very place where camembert began its journey to the top of the cheese chain, as it were.
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Agen-d'aveyron
Those who love blue cheese have likely been waiting patiently for the low-down on Roquefort, perhaps the world’s most-loved blue cheese. The thing that makes Roquefort so special and distinctly delicious is the storied production process: it’s made exclusively from unpasteurized sheep milk, and then matured in the ancient caves below Roquefort-sur-Soulzon.
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Loire Valley
Here in the beautiful Loire Valley, you’ll find Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine, which is made from fresh goat’s milk, and is known the straw that runs through it horizontally to help keep its log-like shape. Sainte-Maure has a divine, soft and crumbly texture, finished with a delightfully rich flavor. The best part about the Loire Valley? The fun doesn’t stop at this one goat cheese—also worth a try (or several) are Curé Nantais and Olivet Cendré.
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Dordogne and Perigord
Here in this southwestern region of France, you’ll find a handful of cheese worth waxing lyrical over—especially the various goat cheeses (which have a centuries-long history of being produced by local nuns and monks). Make sure to try Cabecou du Perigord (creamy and sharp) and Cujassou (made from a combination of young goat and sheep milk).
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Savoie
You’ll have to head to the vibrant and lush French Alps for a taste of the iconic Raclette de Savoie (among many, many others). In this stunning and vast mountain region, you’ll find so many producers and cheeses that it has its very own cheese route that spans three famed mountains known for the surrounding cheese production.