Les Pommes Tapées du Val de Loire
About This Museum
Tucked away in a troglodyte cave in Turquant, this isn't your typical museum; it's a living tribute to one of the Loire Valley's most peculiar and nearly forgotten delicacies: the 'tapped apple'. The air inside is cool and carries the faint, sweet scent of apples and woodsmoke, instantly transporting you back in time. You're not just looking at artifacts here, you're witnessing the revival of a 19th-century craft that saw apples slowly dried and 'tapped' into chewy, concentrated treats for sailors on long voyages. It’s a story of preservation, both of fruit and of heritage, told within the region's iconic chalkstone caves.
Collection Highlights
The heart of the experience is watching a live demonstration where they use traditional cast-iron stoves to dry the apples before gently tapping them back into shape with a small wooden mallet—it’s mesmerizing. You'll see antique tools, black-and-white photos of the original orchard workers, and beautifully displayed rows of the finished pommes tapées themselves, which look like glossy, amber-colored ornaments.
Visitor Information
After the tour, do not leave without tasting these unique treats in their little shop; they're surprisingly delicious and unlike any other dried fruit you've tried. It's a quick but utterly charming stop that perfectly complements a day exploring the Loire's grand chateaux.
Architecture & Building
The museum is carved directly into the soft tuffeau stone cliff face, a classic example of the region's troglodyte architecture that stays naturally cool year-round.
Contact & Location
Address: Rue des Ducs d'Anjou, Le Bourg, Turquant, Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France métropolitaine, 49730, France
Phone: +33 2 41 51 48 30
Website: Visit Website
