Terroir
Mirabelle plums, sugared almonds, madeleines, hillside wines and truffles: a gourmet land to discover from the château’s table.
A gourmet land
The Meuse is a land of orchards, hillsides and forests. Its specialities have travelled far, from the sugared almonds of Verdun to the madeleines of Commercy, without losing their roots: they are still to be found at the makers’ and on the markets, less than an hour from the château.
This page presents the produce and dishes that have made the department’s reputation, with the places to discover them and driving times from the château. At La Cuisine du Château, many of them are on the menu.
Four delicacies born in the Meuse, each tied to a town or a landscape.
A small golden plum with Protected Geographical Indication, queen of the Côtes de Meuse orchards. In a tart, as jam, as eau-de-vie or simply picked from the tree, it is enjoyed in late summer at the growers’ in the hillside villages.
Invented in Verdun in the 13th century, dragées are still made there by Maison Braquier, whose factory can be visited. The chance to leave with a paper cone of them, or with the chocolate shell, the town’s gourmet souvenir.
Born at the court of King Stanislas, the Commercy madeleine is recognisable by its golden hump and its buttery aroma. Several makers in the town keep the recipe alive and sell their madeleines in decorated tins.
The “Bar caviar”: redcurrants deseeded one by one with a goose quill, since the 14th century. A craft unique in the world, to discover in the Renaissance upper town of Bar-le-Duc.
The produce of the hillsides and valleys, to be tasted at source.
On the south-facing slopes, a handful of estates produce wines under Protected Geographical Indication: gris de Meuse, pinot noir, auxerrois and chardonnay. Cellars open for tastings, preferably by appointment.
The Burgundy truffle grows in the limestone soils of the Meuse. The Maison de la truffe et de la trufficulture, near Commercy, presents its cultivation and history; truffle markets and hunting demonstrations enliven the winter months.
The brie de Meaux appellation area extends into the Meuse, where dairies still mature it the traditional way. Goat's cheeses from the department's farms complete the cheeseboard.
Beekeepers, craft breweries, market gardeners and livestock farmers sell at the farm gate or at the markets of Verdun and Saint-Mihiel.
Good to know
From mid-August to mid-September, depending on the year. This is the season for direct sales in the orchards of the Côtes de Meuse and for the mirabelle festivals held across the region.
From the makers themselves: dragées in Verdun, madeleines in Commercy, jam in Bar-le-Duc, and the weekly markets of Verdun and Saint-Mihiel for farm produce. The tourist office shops also offer a selection.
The Braquier dragée factory in Verdun is open to visitors, as are several madeleine bakeries in Commercy and the Maison de la truffe in Boncourt-sur-Meuse. Wine estates welcome visitors by appointment.
Yes. The Chef builds his menu around regional produce as the seasons unfold. Special requests and dietary requirements are welcome.
At the table
Between two outings, La Cuisine du Château showcases regional produce at lunch and dinner.