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Palais Bénédictine, Fécamp, France | |
| Part museum, part factory—and the only place where Bénédictine is made. | ||
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When you hear the word Benedictine, you may picture the monks working away to make a liqueur and raise money for their monastery. That's not quite the story, but it does paint a nice picture. More... A visit to the beautiful—and fascinating—Palais Bénédictine in Fécamp is well worth the time. Fécamp is in fact the only place in the world where Bénédictine is made. The ornate 19th century building houses the factory, as well as the museum that tells the history of Bénédictine and the process for making it. It's right in the center of town (map) and easy to visit. Historical note: During World War I, the museum was converted temporarily to a hospital for wounded soldiers. The original Palais, built in 1892, was destroyed by fire, but Alexandre Le Grand rebuilt it in 1900. It served as both factory and museum, as it does today.
Entering the Palais, you'll come to the peristyle at the top of the stairs. A large stained glass window honors the creator or Bénédictine, Dom Bernardo Vincelli. The nearby Gothic Room includes the library, reliquaries, and other religious symbols. The Domed Hall honors Le Grand, as well as various saints, through stained glass and statues. The Renaissance Hall focuses on wrought iron work, from Le Grand's personal collection, while the art gallery displays paintings. The flamboyant Gothic oratory is filled with religious objects. Perhaps most interesting is the Alexandre Le Grand Hall, which traces the history of Bénédictine and its distribution throughout the world. A collection of posters illustrates how the advertising of Bénédictine changed over the years. At the end of the tour you will see the distillery, with its copper tanks, and the cellars with their oak casks. And then it's time for the tasting (adults only). You'll be given a choice of three liqueurs: original Bénédictine, B&B (Bénédictine & Brandy, slightly less sweet), and Bénédictine Single Cask, a dryer, oaky drink that is only sold at the Bénédictine Palace. And then of course you can buy bottles and gifts to take home. Be sure to admire the beautiful courtyard, and walk around the corner to see the elegant tall tower of the Palais. Note: We've used the French spelling Bénédictine when referring to the liqueur and the palace, and the Anglicized Benedictine (no accents) when referring to Benedictine monks and the order of St. Benedict.
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Above, One of many posters for Bénédictine.
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