Where is French cider made?

French cider is made mainly in the north-west of France, in Normandy and Brittany, where cider apples have been grown for centuries. The protected cidre appellations Pays d'Auge and Cotentin are in Normandy, and Cornouaille is in southern Brittany. Smaller amounts are made in Pays de la Loire and other regions.

Updated 2026-10-03

Key facts

The heartland. BJCP 2025 describes French cider as "a regional product originating in the northwest of France, predominantly Normandy and Brittany", made from bittersweet and bittersharp apples. [1]
Protected names. Cidre Pays d'Auge and Cornouaille are protected appellations (AOP); both are unpasteurised and get their sparkle in the bottle. [2] [3] Cidre Cotentin is a third cidre AOP, in western Normandy. [4] Domfront is an AOP for perry (poiré). [5]
Live count. Cider Radar lists 226 cider makers in France (as of 2026-10-02), most of them in Normandy and Brittany.

Which French regions make cider?

Region	Makers on Cider Radar (as of 2026-10-02)	Protected cidre or poiré
Normandy	114	Pays d'Auge, Cotentin; Domfront (poiré)
Brittany	73	Cornouaille
Pays de la Loire	12	none

These are catalogue counts, not production figures.

What do the French cider appellations require?

Cornouaille (Brittany). The area lies at the southern tip of Finistère, in four sectors and 40 communes. The cider is made traditionally from pure fresh juice of cider apples, is unpasteurised and gets its sparkle in the bottle; bitter and bittersweet apples make up about 70% of the blends, which gives a golden to orange colour and a tannic taste. [3]
Pays d'Auge (Normandy). The specification also requires unpasteurised cider with its sparkle formed in the bottle. [2]
Cotentin (Normandy). A cidre appellation in the Cotentin peninsula of western Normandy. [4]
Domfront (perry). The area, the Bas Domfrontais, lies where Brittany, Normandy and Maine meet and takes in about forty communes in southern Normandy. [5]

Ciders from outside these areas, or made by other methods, are still French cidre but cannot use the appellation names. The general rules for cidre, including the legal minimum strength, are covered in how French cider is made.

What else do the French cider regions make?

Calvados. Apple and pear brandy distilled from cider under its own AOC in Normandy. [6] See what calvados is.
Pommeau. A blend of apple must and calvados or cider brandy, with three AOCs: Pommeau de Normandie, Pommeau de Bretagne and Pommeau du Maine. [7] [8] [9] See what pommeau de Bretagne is.
Eau-de-vie de cidre de Bretagne. Brittany's cider brandy, also an AOC. [10] See what cider brandy is.

How do Normandy and Brittany ciders differ?

Both regions use tannic cider apples and the slow keeving method, so the ciders are often fruity, rich and sweeter than English ones; see French vs English cider. Brittany also makes pommeau de Bretagne, covered in what pommeau de Bretagne is, and Normandy has a signposted cider route, covered in the Normandy cider trail. To buy French cider outside France, see where to buy French cider.

Related answers: how French cider is made · where to buy French cider

Find it on Cider Radar

Cider makers in Normandy: 114 makers listed (as of 2026-10-02). Also Brittany (73) and Pays de la Loire (12), as of 2026-10-02.
All French cider makers: 226 (as of 2026-10-02) · Guide: French cidre
You can order directly from the maker in Cider Radar (iOS, Android and web).
Open the map: app.ciderradar.com · iPhone · Android

Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.

Questions

Is there a French appellation for perry?

Yes, one. INAO describes Domfront as the only French AOP awarded to a poiré (perry); it is made from fresh pear juice with more than 40% of the Plant de Blanc perry pear and gets its sparkle in the bottle. [5]

Where is calvados made?

Calvados is distilled from cider in Normandy and nearby areas under its own appellation rules; see what calvados is.