Both an historic and gastronomic monument, the invention of the Camembert cheese is attributed to cheesemaker Marie Harel, who lived near the village of Camembert in the early years of the French revolution. In its early years, Camembert was made by dairy producers who turned to cheesemaking. Camembert cheese earned a good name in Normandy, extending its reputation further afield in the late 19th century.