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Visit our cellars

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In the heart of the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Saumur, Bouvet-Ladubay, Brut de Loire, welcomes you to its historic site created in 1851 and its cellars dug into the white Tuffeau on the very site of one of the most powerful Benedictine abbeys, La belle d'Anjou.

Pioneers in the art of living in the Loire Valley, 3 different guided tours are available according to your requests  : 

Would you like to discover our cellars and taste our Brut de Loire?

The Classic Guided Tour offers you a classic 1-hour tour of our century-old cellars, full of history, will enable your to discover the works of our « Underground Cathedral » and the 1200 oak barrels which are patiently aging our emblematic vintage cuvées. During this tour, we will explain to you the « méthode Traditionnelle » sparkling wine making process.

A tasting of various sparkling cuvées of our « brut de Loire » will end this visit.

Looking for a more unusual tour? Choose the bike tour. Follow the guide through the maze of cellars on vintage bikes equipped with lights. Don't lose sight of the guide! 

A tasting of our fine sparkling cuvées will also end this 1h30 visit !

If you have more time to spend with us and eager to discover the fascinating history of our House, the 1h45 visit will take you into the History of Bouvet Ladubay through our library of thousands of  labels, our archives retracing the meticulous work of our founders. You will follow the journey our fine Loire sparkling wines round the globe from the 19th century onward, get into Etienne bouvet’s office – still displaying its original piece of furniture  -, the founder of the house, as well as into the small theatre he had built for his employees in the 19th century, the only one of its kind in the world.

Keep on sharing the many insights from this visit during a tasting of our iconic vintages.

Since its acquisition of the brand in 1932 by Justin Marcel Monmousseau, the same family has given a naturally artistic dimension to the company for all wine lovers. They also initiated the master of work that settles in our cellar..

 

Cave Cathédrale La Cathédrale Engloutie

At the end of the 19th century, extraction of the "tuffeau" limestone - which had been used for building many beautiful monuments in France and Europe - drew to an end. 

These immense quarries, that were dug up for 10 centuries have therefore given birth to the castles, abbeys, monuments & cities of the Loire Valley. 

It is said that this tuffeau limestone may have also helped construct the Westminster Royal Abbey's foundation, in London.

 

A bit of history..!

Bouvet Ladubay's wine cellars are located right under the St Florent Abbey ruins. This is where in the Middle Age, at the beginning of the 11th century, one of the most powerful Benedictine abbeys of the Anjou region was founded. 

It will last until the French Revolution and is then sold as a national good and split into several private proprieties.

The site then gradually collapsed until the 19th century, when it was finally destroyed. 

All that are left today are the ruins of this Benedictine abbey, which had once been a finial of the local religious heritage. 

The spirit of La Cathédrale Engloutie is similar to a childhood dream, like "The Horse was in the Stone" perhaps there are still in the cellars fragments of monuments that have existed 

More about "The sunken cathedral"

 

 

BOOK YOUR VISIT

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Useful informations :

Our team welcomes you throughout the year, 7 days a week, from 10 am to 6 pm.

Exceptional closures on Sundays in November and on December 1st, 8th, 15th and 25th. 

Guided tours are open everyday, book on line / through email at accueil@bouvet-ladubay.fr or by phone on 00 33 2 41 83 83 83

Last tour starting 1h30 before closing
Booking required

- Only the classic tour is accessible to people with reduced mobility. (length approximately 500 meters

- Tours available in the following languages : English, French, Spanish and German on demand / appointment

- Cellars temperature are 12°C constant

- Small dogs can be held in the arms during the Classic Guided tour.

- We are located 5 minutes by car and 15 minutes by foot away from the centre of Saumur.

- We are located on the Cycle Route La Loire à vélo

- Car parking located at the entrance of the cellars and in front of St Hilaire St Florent’s church  (1, rue de l'abbaye - St Hilaire St Florent).

- Access through the OGALO bus line 5

             

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