Caves de la Chartreuse
NileGuide Expert Says:
An indispensable part of Grenoble culture, not to be missed.Address:
Phone:
+33(0)476.058.177NileGuide Expert tip:
If you don't have a car, a regular Express Voiron bus line goes to the Voiron station. Afterward, it's just a 5 minute walk to the cellars.Description:
You can't leave Grenoble without having tasted Chartreuse liqueur. Yes, it's a strong after-dinner drink, but it's also used to make ice cream, candy, mixed drinks, and a delicious winter treat, Green Chaud.The recipe dates back to 1605, when the Maréchal d'Estrées gave a manuscript detailing the recipe of this elixir to the Chartreuse fathers. The recipe was so complex--the ingredient list contains 130 plants and flowers--that the formula wasn't perfected until 132 years later, in 1737. Today, only three Chartreuse monks know the recipe, which they continue to distill today.
The museum and cellar in Voiron, around 20 kilometers from Grenoble, retraces the history of the liqueur and takes visitors through the cellars where all the world's Chartreuse ages. Visitors will also see the distillery and a 3D film that presents the Chartreuse order and their role in producing the liqueur.
Afterward, visitors can enjoy a free tasting of Chartreuse products, which are all natural--no artificial colors are added.
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