The Foudre Mercier, the world's largest oak vat, stands over 10 meters high and weighs approximately 100 tons when empty.
The brand Byrrh was originally marketed as a health tonic for the blood, capitalizing on the popularity of quinine at the time.
The company commissioned famous artists, including Jules Chéret, to create iconic advertising posters for the brand.
The distillery building was designed by engineers associated with the Gustave Eiffel firm, incorporating metal structures typical of the era.
The cellars were constructed to handle the massive transit of wine from the Languedoc-Roussillon vineyards.
Byrrh gained significant popularity in the early 20th century, becoming one of the best-selling aperitifs in France before the World Wars.
Caves Byrrh in Thuir houses the world's largest oak vat, with a capacity of 1,000,002 liters. The site serves as the production facility for Byrrh, a tonic wine made from mistelle, cinchona bark, and other plants. Originally established by the Violet brothers in 1866, the facility showcases late 19th-century industrial architecture. Visitors tour the expansive aging cellars where thousands of barrels are stored. The site features original posters and advertising art commissioned by the company to promote the drink. The building retains its Belle Époque atmosphere and historical production equipment. Guided tours explain the evolution of the brand from a medicinal elixir to an international apéritif. The cellar complex is an integral part of the industrial heritage of the Pyrénées-Orientales region.
Beside the massive Foudre Mercier vat in the main hall.
Book your guided tour in advance online to secure a spot, as these are mandatory for cellar access.
Bring a light jacket, as the underground cellars remain cool even during the heat of a Mediterranean summer.
Allocate time to explore the boutique, which offers product tastings not always found in general retail.
Do not attempt to explore the production area without a registered tour guide, as the facility remains an active site.
Closed on certain public holidays and occasionally during the off-season; check the website for annual maintenance closures in winter.
Closed-toe shoes are recommended due to the cellar floor surfaces; smoking is strictly prohibited inside the historical production areas.
