Camembert Gillot

Camembert is one of the most copied cheeses in the world. It was made famous by Marie Harel, who made cheese in the village of Camembert at the end of the 18th century. During the French Revolution, she gave shelter to a priest from the Brie region, whose advice she probably followed. This priest, who came from near Paris, initiated her into the secrets of traditional cheese-making. This alliance gave rise to what is probably the most famous cheese in the world, Camembert, but in fact similar soft cheeses had been produced in the Normandy region long before. The French Emperor Napoleon III helped Camembert achieve its breakthrough by placing it on the imperial court table. In the second half of the 19th century, Camembert was able to establish itself on the markets in Paris and other parts of France thanks to the railroad. In 1890, the now common packaging in small round chipboard boxes was invented. Today, Camembert is exported all over the world, but is often also produced outside the country, as the name "Camembert" alone is not protected. 1912 saw the founding of the Gillot dairy in the French commune of Saint Hilaire de Briouze, in the Orne department in the Normandy region. The mild and humid climate, as well as the clay-rich soil in this region, offer ideal conditions for livestock farming.