When planning our trip to France, I quickly realised that the drive from the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais to our hotel in Poissy, just outside Paris, was far longer than I’d expected. I went in search of a charming, photogenic spot for lunch and struck gold with the storybook village of Gerberoy
Gerberoy is officially one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France, a title reserved for the most beautiful villages in the country. The village is famous for its roses, which bloom in abundance every June and spill over walls, archways and cobbled lanes.
Visitors must leave their cars in the car park at the entrance to the village, which is just as well because Gerberoy is the kind of place you’ll want to explore on foot, even with temperatures soaring into the high 30s as they did on the day we visited.
The painter Henri Le Sidaner fell under Gerberoy’s spell in the early 1900s, and the beautiful gardens he created still flourish to this day. We weren’t able to visit them on this occasion, as we had a timed entry for Monet’s garden later that afternoon, but I know in my heart that I’ll return one day. Still, we took a peek into the gardens and then continued down the hill where we encountered the city gate above.
As we continued further down the hill, we turned around to see the view above, looking out of the village through the city gate.
Gerberoy has been fortified since the 11th century, and traces of its medieval ramparts and half-timbered houses still remain.
We decided to turn right, past the half-timbered house and down the country lane.
We stopped to admire the flowers lining both sides of the lane.
With fewer than 100 residents, Gerberoy feels like stepping into a storybook, quiet and utterly timeless.
We walked past L’Atelier Gourmand de Sarah, where we would later stop for lunch. Doesn’t it look inviting?
We continued on to the centre of the village, where the Tourism Office was located (closed on Mondays), as well as an art gallery and public conveniences.
Soon we were on the path back to the city gate, and back towards the restaurant. I was pleased to discover roses looking as wilted as I felt.
We admired the buildings and views…
… and stopped to smell the roses, of course.
Soon we were in the shade of rose-pink umbrellas at L’Atelier Gourmand de Sarah. The host was so welcoming and gave us ice cold water to enjoy while our food was prepared.
I enjoyed a cheese tarte, served with a lovely salad filled with local ingredients. The rose-shaped pastry on the bottom right was a delicious savoury pea muffin.
We took a long, slow walk back to the car after our meal. I spotted the forest scene opposite the entrance to Les Jardins Henri le Sidaner. Again, I would have loved to have more time in village to explore.
We took a long moment to admire the views before climbing into the car for the next part of our journey. Gerberoy was lovely and I do hope to return one day.
The main parking area for Gerberoy is located at 8 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Jean, 60380 Gerberoy, France and offers free, daytime parking.
L’Atelier Gourmand de Sarah accepts credit cards but not all restaurants in the village do, so you might want to draw cash before you reach the village.
The following map shows the location of Gerberoy in relation to Calais and Monet's Garden in Giverny. From Calais, it is just under 3 hours to Gerberoy and then another 75 to 90 minutes to Giverny.
