This biscuit factory in Brittany treats us for Christmas with its decorations and collectible toys

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The Biscuiterie Ménou, in Plougonveris once again dressed in lights for the 2024 end-of-year celebrations. The large exhibition hall shines brightly to immerse visitors in the Christmas atmosphere throughout the month of December and even beyond .

As soon as you enter, you are taken into the atmosphere, with these Christmas melodies swirling around the room.

Family photos

A cult voice from Christmases of yesteryear welcomes you, on the right as you enter. That of Tino Rossiwho sings the essential Petit Papa Noël, while children and their parents can take a photo in a magical setting, around Santa Claus. A shooting star, a snow-covered fir tree, “that’s the magic of Christmas,” summarizes Martine Ménou, who directs the exhibitions each year.

On the other side of the room, if we raise our heads, we discover a very nice collection of toys from yesteryear. “Babar, Polux, Rather, Mickey, old games in wood and iron, teddy bears, dolls from yesteryear…”. All under the benevolent gaze of a superb Santa Claus straight from P’tit Hub, the second-hand dealer in Guingamp. “It’s an extraordinary piece,” comments Martine Ménou.

Above, the lively reindeer have taken their place again. They are watching over the huge Christmas tree. No tavern this year at Ménou, it’s the igloo which has taken its place in the exhibition room, “with a nice little corner to sit with the family inside and have a coffee and eat biscuits” . Be careful when entering, a huge white bear guards the place, “and we added sound effects to imitate its cry,” warns Martine Ménou.

All around, snow, skis, but also the book Martine in the mountains (a nod to Martine Ménou), “to remind you that in the past we often had snow at Christmas, this is less the case today”.

Collectibles to admire

We don’t know where to turn because there are so many beautiful objects to contemplate throughout the visit: a little animated carousel, a beautiful stuffed animal of Woody Woodpecker caught pruning his tree, a collection of nativity scenes from different countries (from Italy, Costa Rica, Chile, Austria…), santons from Provence, next to a wooden tree, “a Dutch tradition”. Exceptional pieces, purchased by the biscuit makers of Plougonver in different flea markets or from specialists, throughout the year, to create this very beautiful exhibition for the holidays.

The works of an artist are hung in the room, wooden structures which evoke shapes, animal silhouettes or human forms, “each interprets according to their inspiration”.

We pass the window of old toys from the 40s to the 70s, to enter the biscuit shop. The magic of Christmas continues even more, with other beautiful exhibitions: the Seven Dwarfs in particular, rabbits, teddy bears.

Not to be missed either, in the tableware room, a large chandelier which illuminates a collection of globes and wedding dresses, as well as a superb two-story enclosed bed. A cradle and a high chair from yesteryear…

A fantastic journey through time and our heritage awaits visitors to the Ménou biscuit factory in Plougonver. Various activities are also planned during the holidays, including Christmas stories on Sunday, December 22 at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Practical. La Biscuiterie Ménou is open all year round from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Open Sunday December 22 and 29 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tel 02.96.21.61.97. Free entry, free coffee and cookies.

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