Benedictine Palace (Palais Bénédictine)

The original Palais Bénédictine was destroyed by criminal arson in 1892, just four years after construction began. Rather than being discouraged, Alexandre Le Grand commissioned an even more elaborate reconstruction that took until 1900 to complete. Tragically, he died in 1898 and never saw his finished masterpiece — the palace was inaugurated two years after his death.

The museum contains a fascinating collection of over 600 counterfeit Bénédictine bottles, showcasing the incredible lengths to which forgers went to imitate the famous liqueur. This unusual display demonstrates how successful and coveted the brand became since its 1863 revival, with fakes ranging from crude imitations to remarkably sophisticated replicas.

The palace offers an Arsène Lupin-themed escape game called 'Le trésor de la plume d'or' (The Treasure of the Golden Feather), a fitting tribute since the fictional gentleman thief's creator, Maurice Leblanc, was born in nearby Rouen and set several stories along the Normandy coast. Participants have 45 minutes to solve puzzles and uncover secrets within the palace's ornate halls.