Livarot

Livarot brings together architectural history, an industrial past and a natural area close to the town centre. Saint-Ouen Church, the steam engine of Entreprises Leroy and Le Village Fromager represent different sides of the town’s history; the Écoparc de la Pipardière has its own focus on ponds and nature. You can choose how to explore during your stay: a church visit, access with a key, a visitor route through galleries or a walk in the town centre.

Saint-Ouen Church: history and organ

Saint-Ouen Church was founded around 1070 by William the Conqueror, rebuilt in the 15th century and extensively redesigned in the 19th century. Its history therefore spans several clearly distinct phases of construction. The church contains an organ built in 1892, which has been classified as an object since 1990. If you would like to explore the building and local history together, the church offers both a long history of development and a precisely dated detail of its furnishings. It is open for free visits daily from 9 am to 6 pm; as visiting hours may change, check them before your visit.

Traces of industry and cheese-making

Livarot’s industrialisation in the 19th century also included the manufacture of cheese boxes. An old steam engine from Entreprises Leroy was first used to generate electricity for a former flax mill, and later for packaging Livarot cheese. The machine’s use links a former flax mill with the later packaging of cheese. You can visit the steam engine independently and free of charge; the key is available from the media library. As access arrangements and opening hours may change, check how to collect the key and the opening times in advance.

Le Village Fromager at Fromagerie Graindorge offers a different perspective on Livarot cheese. The visitor route passes through glazed galleries, where the production of the Norman cheeses Livarot and Pont-l’Évêque is shown; both have a protected designation of origin. This presents two ways to explore the history of cheese side by side: the former use of production equipment at the steam engine, and the cheese-making shown in the galleries.

Écoparc de la Pipardière: ponds and nature

The Écoparc de la Pipardière covers 1.8 hectares and is close to the town centre. A network of three ponds forms part of the natural area; information panels explain biodiversity and the water cycle. A footpath connects the Écoparc with the Voie verte.

Explore Livarot on foot

The “Livarot, cité industrielle” route is an easy, 4.0-kilometre circular walk starting in Livarot; it also takes you on a historical stroll through the town centre. This clearly measured walking option contrasts with a natural area whose themes include ponds, biodiversity and the water cycle. The route and the Écoparc therefore have different focuses: town history on the walk, and nature in the park. Route conditions may change; check them before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Crépon, Martigny-Sur-L'ante, Ouilly-Le-Tesson, Les Autels-Saint-Bazile, Culey-le-Patry, Le Gast, Saint-Julien-De-Mailloc, Englesqueville En Auge.

For the wider travel overview: Calvados.