It was an institution in this small town of Excideuil, in Dordogne, and yet, due to a lack of a buyer, the biscuit patisserie had to close its doors at the start of 2025. For 135 years, the Faugerolas family had been owner of this gastronomic establishment. The last day of opening was also that of goodbyes.
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135 years of existence, and then it’s gone.”is sad”says Annie Serena, a loyal customer who came to pick up king cakes, accompanied by her grandchildren. This Périgord resident also appreciated the cakes and chocolates from this establishment which had been there for a long time.
Four generations of the Faugerolas family have succeeded one another at Pâtisserie Bugeaud in Excideuil in Dordogne.
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© France 3 Aquitaine
The pastry chef will take a well-deserved retirement after 45 years of work. This last day is a special moment for the couple of traders who will close shop at the end of the day.
I’m a little lost this morning. It’s funny to me. I don’t think I realized yet that we were closing for good.
Corinne Faugerolas,trader
VIDEO. See the report on the day of the definitive closure of the century-old Excideuil biscuit patisserie ►►
duration of video: 00h01mn51s
After four generations of pastry chefs, there will be no buyer of the shop.
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©France 3 Aquitaine
Also known as Biscuiterie Bugeaud, this pastry will have left its mark on several generations of Excideuillais. Edith remembers Blanche, the grandmother, a woman “imposing, welcoming, but a little authoritarian.
For some, this store is part of the town of Excideuil, as evidenced by Michel Gouzon, another customer and family friend who closed that day. “It’s dramatic that a local institution disappears, he regrets. In addition, a business with quality and friendliness! It hurts my heart.”
But, like Corinne and Alain Faugérolas, he hopes that other pastry chefs will take over the business which is “well located”not far from the medieval castle. And even, personally, he is ready “to help” possible buyers.
In Excideuil in Dordogne, several generations of gourmets were part of the pastry chef’s clientele.
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© France 3 Aquitaine
The story began in black and white, in 1890, with the great-grandfather of Alain Faugerolas who was already Excideuil’s official pastry chef. “I am the fourth generation“, testifies Alain who, in turn like his elders, worked as a family with Paulette, his mother, but also Corinne, his wife. A pastry tradition that he had extended until this Sunday, very sad for him .
Last year, while he was still hoping to find a buyer, he showed some vestiges of this lineage, such as a book of accounts kept by his great-grandfather, then his grandfather, dating from the beginning of the last century. And then some advertisements on posters in outdated tones. At the time, the Faugérolas family specialized in biscuits.
Alain and Corinne Faugérolas are of retirement age and their son, having chosen the profession of nursing, will not be the next generation of pastry chefs. This day is a happy day for the family with the regret nevertheless: not having found a replacement and that their specialties are lost like the Grands Marnier or the Mokas. Since last year, however, they have done everything to perpetuate the family business. In vain.
The couple of pastry chefs would have liked to be able to pass this on at the same time as the business.
While waiting for a possible buyer, the family was able to appreciate this last day of opening with the scent of galette des rois. A day marked by emotion and recognition. A bouquet of flowers, a few choice words, customers will not forget, that’s for sure, the sweet treats that accompanied great moments in their family lives, not far from the Excideuil patisserie.
