Lourdes Chocolate Pailhasson
|
I’m 34 years old and come from Salles-Argeles, a small village in the Hautes-Pyrénées. From the age of 22, after obtaining my Brevet Technique de Métiers in Rodez, I worked at the confectionery in Lourdaise. As an artisan and master confectioner, I went on to found the company “Pyrénées Bonbons” in Lourdes.
Very attached to the “Chocolat Pailhasson” brand, which I’ve known since I was a child, I moved heaven and earth to find it and buy it back.“Chocolat Pailhasson is the oldest chocolate house in France. It was founded in 1729 by the apothecary Pailhasson in Lourdes. With no heir, it closed its doors in 2010.
Once I had bought the brand, I set up my workshops near the Arrouza river in Lourdes, but the floods in 2013 forced me to leave the premises.
I moved to Ibos, near Tarbes, and after months of building work, with the help of my family, I made my dream come true. On 18 December 2014, the doors of the new “Chocolats Pailhasson” finally opened.
Claude, how do you work with chocolate?
“Our chocolate comes directly from Belgium and Ludovic and I prepare it in the workshops that can be seen from the shop through the bay windows.
With a bit of luck and a lot of hard work, we were able to refurbish our old machines, some of which are very old. We’ve also recovered our various moulds (hearts, rounds, etc.).”
Pailhasson Chocolate bears
Lourdes Chocolate Pailhasson
|
Chocolate bars, Pailhasson Chocolate
|
What products can you find in your House?
“Milk chocolate bars, dark chocolate bars, dark chocolate-hazelnut bars, dark chocolate-almond bars, milk chocolate-hazelnut bars, milk chocolate-almond bars, milk chocolate-caramel bars and dark chocolate bars.
Balls in different flavours such as Cerise, Framboisine, Amandine and Croustillant café are also available by weight on a self-service basis.
In fact, when you walk into my shop, you discover a very bright space, decorated with a few old vintage machines. Large bay windows give you a glimpse of the production workshops. And you find yourself surrounded by chocolate. Some are packaged and displayed on large wooden shelves. Others are served individually, displayed on refrigerated counters, and those hidden in drawers, which you can choose from and help yourself to, filling your bags as you wish.
What a treat!
Not forgetting the marrons glacés, citronettes, orangettes, gourmet lollies, small chocolates (green tea, honey, etc…), coffee accompaniments, beans, little hearts and also the cailloux du gave, berlingots and many more…
It’s hard to name them all. The best thing is to come and visit us, and we’ll even let you taste some. Some will remind you of the chocolate of your childhood…”
Practical info
Pailhasson Chocolates
6 rue ZA de la Garounère
65420 IBOS
Tel : 05 62 42 04 75
Michèle and Christelle are there to serve you every day
Monday to Saturday 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm
