Maison Braquier

Verdun's historic dragée factory, with shop and small museum

Maison Braquier is the principal surviving producer of the sugared almonds that have been associated with Verdun since the Middle Ages. The factory shop on Rue de Pasteur sells dragées in dozens of colours and flavours and runs a small free museum on the history of the trade.

Factory tours can be booked in advance; the tasting at the end is the highlight. Even without a tour, a bag of the classic white dragées makes the obvious souvenir from a Verdun visit.

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A story
The dragée — a sugar-coated almond — is said to have been invented in Verdun in 1220 by an apothecary who coated almonds in sugar and honey to preserve them. Maison Braquier has been producing them in the city since 1783 and is the last major manufacturer; their dragées have been served at French state weddings for over a century.

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