Mantilly – Poiré tradition in the Bocage

Mantilly is shaped by its Poiré tradition and the landscape associated with it. Because of its importance in the production of pears and Poiré, the town is known as the “capital of Poiré.” In the Domfrontais around Mantilly, tall-standard pear orchards and living hedgerows define the Bocage landscape. Orchards, a fruit variety conservation garden and a circular route that includes Mantilly offer tangible ways to explore this regional connection during a stay.

Poiré tradition and festival dates

The Fête du Poiré has been held every two years in July in Mantilly since 1978. Local produce and music are part of the festival. If you would like to plan your trip around the event, check the dates in advance. This helps distinguish the recurring festival from other themes in the town that are signposted year-round.

The 2026 programme included wooden games and an inflatable structure for children. The Poiré tradition itself goes back further: the event, held every two years, has been running since 1978.

Bocage, circular route and orchards

The landscape around Mantilly combines tall-standard pear orchards with a Bocage landscape shaped by living hedgerows. Both are connected with the Poiré tradition. Mantilly is also home to a fruit variety conservation garden. The Route du Poiré offers another way to explore this theme: it is signposted year-round, is about 80 kilometres long and follows a circular route that includes Mantilly.

The scale of individual fruit farms also gives an idea of the importance of fruit growing. The family-run Les Grimaux farm has been operating since 1939, covers 140 hectares and has 1,000 pear trees and 600 tall-standard apple trees. The fruit harvested at Les Grimaux is made into juice, Poiré, cider, aperitifs and Calvados Domfrontais. The area and number of trees may change over time.

The orchard of Calvados Didier Lemorton covers about 100 hectares and contains tall-standard apple and pear trees. The figure here refers to the orchard; for Les Grimaux, it refers to the area of the farm. The two figures therefore refer to different things. Together with the conservation garden and the route, they offer an overview of fruit growing, the landscape and local produce, without equating these distinct offerings.

Products and visits

Domaine Fourmond Lemorton produces Poiré Domfront AOP, farmhouse cider, Pommeau de Normandie AOC, Poir d’or, Calvados Domfrontais AOC, and apple and pear juice using organic cider-making methods. If a particular product is important to your trip, check its availability in advance. Guided visits for groups and individuals are available by appointment.

Les Grimaux welcomes visitors who want to discover the products made there. Check the arrangements for visits in advance. At Calvados Didier Lemorton, visits include the production workshop and ageing cellars and are available by reservation. The visits therefore differ in format: guided tours are available by appointment at one farm, while the other’s tours specifically cover the workshop and cellars.

Seasonal village of lights

During the year-end holiday season, Mantilly becomes a village of lights on the “Villes et Villages Illuminés du Bocage Ornais” route. This seasonal offering adds a different reason to plan a trip alongside the Poiré and fruit-growing themes. Dates and displays may vary from year to year. If the illuminations are a deciding factor for your stay, check the information for the relevant year.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Léonard-des-Parcs, Sainte-Gauburge-Sainte-Colombe, Sées, Nocé, Aunou-Sur-Orne, Dancé, Ceton, Saint-Aubin-Des-Grois.

For the broader travel overview: Orne.