Why You Should Visit the Village of Pierrerue

Hidden Provence is a chance to explore a less travelled part of Provence. This 8-night (7-day) walking tour is run by Liz Lord and her husband, Mel. During the trip, the group is based in a private home near Forcalquier. Liz wrote the following post after their last trip while still dreaming about dessert.  Here, is why you might want to visit the village of Pierrerue.

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Continuing the dip into eateries around the little-trodden area of Provence around Forcalquier, let’s delight in coming across this very quaint bistro in Pierrerue.

If you are lucky enough to be staying in the area and are approaching from the east, the stress of racing up the motorway (the A51 from Aix North) is soon forgotten. La Brillanne offers a wealth of food and do it yourself opportunities if you are staying locally. The lovely hillside village of Lurs is tempting at very first sight, as a perfect destination for a post-prandial stroll!

The village of Pierrerue is a tiny place numbering very few souls, and the Bistrot de Pierrerue in the heart of the village, is straight out of your imagination, the perfect “film set” Provençal resto.

You will be warmly welcomed by the American hostess, Maryvonne, who is in front of the house, and able partner to her French husband who does what he does best tucked away in the kitchen.  This bistro is part of the Bistrot de Pays association where you can be sure of passionate owners who take pride in cooking local food with some care!

There is a short menu of home-cooked food and an appealing selection of mainly local wines. Enjoy a kir, white wine with a choice of various fruit liqueurs. To add some zing, choose cassis, framboise or peche while you select your courses.  After several visits with an eclectic mix of nationalities on each occasion, there was no disappointment, and for your (vegetarian) writer, no hesitation whatsoever in recommending chef’s gnocchi as the best-ever tasted – some sort of magical alchemy with local goat’s cheese it seems.  (Note: Do ask for this “off the menu” treat in advance).  Hence, and with apologies, there is a lack of memory for other diners’ dishes, but not a scrap left, which tells you all you need to know.

Great evenings, well looked after, lots of laughs, and good home-cooked food—what could be better?

Booking ahead is recommended, as it would be a great shame to arrive footsore at lunchtime and find the doors firmly shut!  The village of Pierrerue is pretty for a wander around, but you will be hard-pressed to find anything else to eat.

Don’t forget the market on a Saturday morning – genuine local stuff sold by locals – including a lovely old fellow selling wicker baskets!

Travel Tips:

Le Bistrot de Pierrerue

Rue de la Ferraille

04300 Pierrerue

+33 0492753300

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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).