The mysteries of the Cauterets berlingot

Cauterets
The mysteries of the  ...

We thought it was a little outdated, out of fashion, even downright out of date. However, the multi-flavored berlingot, prized by our grandmothers, still tantalizes the taste buds today. This artisanal confectionery is the essential delicacy of the small spa town of Cauterets, in the Pyrenees. Made with respect for traditional recipes, this candy is very much like a moment of escape, an inimitable little pleasure. Direction the heights of Cauterets to unravel the secrets of its authentic berlingots and together discover the world of these sweets that have survived the centuries.

marinette confectionery

Berlingots Marinette confectionery continues this tradition

sponsored content

Cauterets, the Mecca of Pyrenean hydrotherapy  

cauterets

cauterets   cauterets

Cauterets, colorful

In the heart of the Pyrenees National Park, the mountain range deploys horizons combed with mountains, peaks, canyons and superb valleys. Nestled at the bottom of one of them, Cauterets is a pretty village perched at 967m where icy torrents rush and where springs of hot and sulphurous water gush out at 55 °. The mountain spa village owes its name to this paradox between the hot "caut" and the cold "ret". It is known since the sixteenth century in particular by Marguerite of Navarre, sister of François 1st who regularly came to take the waters. Cauterets experienced a real craze in the nineteenth century : you could meet illustrious characters such as Victor Hugo, Georges Sand, Chateaubriand or Gustave Flaubert in its alleys. The thermal spa is gaining in popularity and the face of the village is gradually transformed to welcome the many social figures, the spa guests as well as the thousands of pilgrims from Lourdes who go up to stay in Cauterets to visit the nearby Pont d'Espagne. Thus the city is adorned with pretty walks, a colorful bourgeois architecture, unobstructed viewpoints to the delight of visitors. At the start of the 20th century, Cauterets even became the most important spa town in France. But, and the berlingots in all this?  

A luxury product closely linked to the thermal baths

Berlingots de Cauterets
Photo @ Confiserie Marinette


What could be better than a sweet note to reduce an unpleasant taste in the mouth? Indeed, specializing in the care of respiratory ailments, the hot and sulphurous water of Cauterets is used to treat the throat and gives the curists who drink it a feeling of bitterness in the taste buds. Doctors then recommend sucking on a sweet candy to remove this bad taste and optimize the benefits of the cure. This multicolored candy becomes the very first sugar confectionery in Europe. At the start of the 19th century, all the spa towns had their own berlingot factories, a highly prized luxury candy that had become inseparable from cures. In Cauterets, around ten manufacturing workshops were created, producing thousands of cartons under the eyes of passers-by attracted by the smell of sugar and the friendly atmosphere.

sponsored content

Visit a berlingot shop  

Today, the berlingot continues to make Cauterets famous! Made from water, sugar and glucose syrup to which 100% natural flavors and colors are added, its recipe has not changed. The few manufacturers gathered in the avenue du Mamelon Vert, proudly perpetuate the tradition with talent, attached to craftsmanship. I meet Eric Millet, confectioner for almost 20 years, to reveal some secrets of its manufacture in the Confiserie Marinette. Lemon, cherry, blackcurrant, blueberry, bergamot, liquorice, raspberry, mandarin… The master confectioner offers a wide range of flavors based on fruits, plants and natural essences. Similar to caramel, the sugar preparation is put on the fire until it reaches 150 °C, then the syrup is poured and worked on a marble table. The mixture is used to obtain nuances of colors and stripes. While cooling, it is rolled and stretched until a homogeneous dough is obtained which is "corded". The last step is to cut the candy to give it its tetrahedron shape with a "pillow". Very fun to watch, young and old can even participate actively in these demonstrations in front of the amazed eyes of visitors!  

   Berlingots de Cauterets   Berlingots de Cauterets

The stages of production ; Photos @ Confiserie Marinette

That's it. Time for tasting now!  

sponsored content

Did you like our report ? Find others on the Toulouse Pyrenees Guide Blog

Join us on the Facebook page of the Toulouse Pyrénées Guide , we are also on Instagram @guidetoulousepyrenees

Article and photo prepared by Lesley Williamson (unless otherwise specified)


Back to "Food Lovers"

You will also like

Hike to Lac d'Estom, one of the most beautiful lakes in the Hautes Pyrénées!

Hike to Lac d'Estom, one of the most beautiful lakes in the Hautes Pyrénées!
Hike to Lac d'Estom, one of the most beautiful ...

Cauterets

Discovery of Lac de Gaube and the Pont d'Espagne, must-see sites in the Pyrenees

Discovery of Lac de Gaube and the Pont d'Espagne, must-see sites in the Pyrenees
Discovery of Lac de Gaube and the Pont d'Espag ...

Cauterets

Stroll on Lake Estaing: immersion in pastoral lands

Stroll on Lake Estaing: immersion in pastoral lands
Stroll on Lake Estaing: immersion in pastoral  ...

7,6 km - Estaing

Relaxation and rejuvenation at the Thermes de Luz-Saint-Sauveur

Relaxation and rejuvenation at the Thermes de Luz-Saint-Sauveur
Relaxation and rejuvenation at the Thermes de  ...

8,9 km - Luz-Saint-Sauveur

La Ferme des Cascades, a small ecological paradise to discover

La Ferme des Cascades, a small ecological paradise to discover
La Ferme des Cascades, a small ecological para ...

8,9 km - Luz-Saint-Sauveur

You will like also

CASCADE DU LUTOUR

CASCADE DU LUTOUR
CASCADE DU LUTOUR

Normal 0 21 false false false FR X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tableau ...

Cauterets

CAUTERETS

CAUTERETS
CAUTERETS

Cauteret is a spa resort which acquired its notoriety through the frequentation of Chateaubriand, Victor Hugo, Sarah ...

58 m - Cauterets

The thermal baths of Cauterets

The thermal baths of Cauterets
The thermal baths of Cauterets

Spa resort in the Hautes-Pyrénées (altitude 950 meters), Cauterets has been known for the virtues of its thermal ...

155 m - Cauterets

Les Cascades De Cauterets

Les Cascades De Cauterets
Les Cascades De Cauterets

Between Cauterets and the Pont d’Espagne, come and take a superb, easy hike in the undergrowth until you reach the ...

2,2 km - Cauterets

PYRENEES NATIONAL PARK

PYRENEES NATIONAL PARK
PYRENEES NATIONAL PARK

It is the most visited of the French national park. It straddles 2 departments: the Hautes Pyrénées and the ...

3,1 km - Tarbes

Ride around

Les Balcons de cauterets

Les Balcons de cauterets
Les Balcons de cauterets

57 m - Cauterets

Walking

Circuit n°5 - Cauterets - Le bois d'Aumède

Circuit n°5 - Cauterets - Le bois d'Aumède
Circuit n°5 - Cauterets - Le bois d'Aumède

57 m - Cauterets

Mountain bike

Circuit n°3 - Cauterets - Cattarabes (Cambasque)

Circuit n°3 - Cauterets - Cattarabes (Cambasque)
Circuit n°3 - Cauterets - Cattarabes (Cambasque)

57 m - Cauterets

Mountain bike

Le belvédère d'Aoumède et la Ferme Basque

Le belvédère d'Aoumède et la Ferme Basque
Le belvédère d'Aoumède et la Ferme Basque

61 m - Cauterets

Walking

L'Hostellerie de la Reine Hortense

L'Hostellerie de la Reine Hortense
L'Hostellerie de la Reine Hortense

62 m - Cauterets

Walking