Excursion Make your own bread tour at Cherbourg

Get acquainted with making bread the traditional way at the lovely Marie Ravenel watermill in Réthoville. This gorgeous stone structure was built in the 18^th century and operated as the Coudrairie watermill for over a century. Its current owners brought the place back to life recently and renamed it for Marie Ravenel, the miller and poetess who lived here for 31 years. On today's excursion learn all about the history of this ancient watermill, the process of milling grains, and get a hands-on lesson in breadmaking.

Hands-On Breadmaking Lesson from Mill's Baker

Drive 45 scenic minutes from the pier to the Marie Ravenel watermill. Meet the resident baker of the mill, who is prepared to reveal the secrets of breadmaking to you. Learn about the nuances of proper dough fermentation, and learn to knead and shape your dough into a ball, a flower, or a brioche. While your bread bakes in the wood-burning oven, take a tour to learn how your flour was traditionally milled right on-site in the watermill.

Tour the Marie Ravenel Watermill and Lunch

Discover the history and ins and outs of this exceptional mill, which has been restored and rebuilt out of iroko (African wood) and housed under a traditional thatched roof. With a diameter of 3.2 m, this particular mill can reach an impressive capacity of 500,000 liters of water! See in person the mill gear system, including the grinding wheels, one of which made the flour you baked with just a few moments ago. Take a moment to browse the onsite permanent exhibition, "Intérieur Normand" to learn more about what life was like centuries ago at the mill.

After your tour, enjoy a lunch freshly cooked in the mill's wood-fired oven. And as a newly minted apprentice baker, you can proudly bring home your very own hand-made loaf of bread.

After this delighful workshop, make the return drive back to Cherbourg.

Please note: This tour involves a minimal amount of walking, with a few stairs. This tour is not recommended for individuals confined to wheelchairs due to the use of a bus, which requires its passengers to board and disembark with minimal assistance. Individuals who are confined to their wheelchairs must make arrangements at least a month in advance with the Shore Concierge Staff to ensure that a special needs vehicle is secured. Children's seats can be provided upon request. Space on this tour is limited; we suggest you book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Marie Ravenel watermill, bread-making lesson, lunch