Les Routiers – dining concept that is uniquely French..give it a try !

[scotjimland]

in France there is one kind of dining experience that just wouldn’t travel – those small, independent roadside eateries, les routiers.

Leave the autoroute and head into rural France and from 12 until 2pm you’ll find arrays of white vans, trucks and tractors parked up outside inauspicious restaurants.

It’s the clientele and their upholding of French culinary traditions that make the place what it is, and that’s why les routiers, dedicated to serving the transitory gastronomic requirements of the French, wouldn’t work anywhere else.

European travelling insights - Les Relais Routiers, Logis de France and Le Chateau Blanchard

During the 1970s, 80s and 90s, British tourists became intrigued by Les Relais Routiers the red and blue-logoed truck bistros along the main roads of France, which offer solid, good value lunches and

lenews.ch

We tried one in Honfleur, it's up a backstreet, away from the main tourist areas.. It was just an amazing experience, cheap as chips , but the main thing was it was all French folks, mostly workers, .. no tourists, (except us) and everyone friendly and chatting.. they made us feel very welcome.

The food was basic but well cooked and served nicely.. with as much free red wine as you could drink.. we didn't indulge, so that part wasn't experienced.. probably a good idea.. lol

Give it a go.. it is truly a French experience not to be missed ..

 

[The Wino]

We have eaten at a few it's worth it for the food and the experience.

 

[chaser]

Absolutely, we stop at them all the time when in France.
There is also an app called truckfly that tells you where to find them ,it's a lot like p4n but truckstops instead of Aires.

 

[yodeli]

scotjimland clap clap for this Jim! Yes, Les routiers are probably the best option for a nice and cheap meal the French way! You said it all!

 

[ivorantony]

Absolutely, we stop at them all the time when in France.
There is also an app called truckfly that tells you where to find them ,it's a lot like p4n but truckstops instead of Aires.

Ditto, well worth a stop, will try a few heading south in November,

 

[scotjimland]

Absolutely, we stop at them all the time when in France.
There is also an app called truckfly that tells you where to find them ,it's a lot like p4n but truckstops instead of Aires.

yes, I forgot about the app.. thanks for reminding me..

 

[bladerunner]

We ate at one North of Bergerac. Truck stop.

Buffet starter e.g. smoked salmon, snails, salad
half chicken and fries
Buffet desert e.g. chocolate pot
Half litre wine
all for.............





......€10

coffee was extra!

 

[scotjimland]

We ate at one North of Bergerac. Truck stop.

Buffet starter e.g. smoked salmon, snails, salad
half chicken and fries
Buffet desert e.g. chocolate pot
Half litre wine
all for.............





......€10

coffee was extra!

daylight robbery .. lol

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[chaser]

We ate at one North of Bergerac. Truck stop.

Buffet starter e.g. smoked salmon, snails, salad
half chicken and fries
Buffet desert e.g. chocolate pot
Half litre wine
all for.............





......€10

coffee was extra!

I'm surprised that more motorhomers don't use these places, fantastic value, set menu but always loads to eat, the thing that always puzzle's me though is these bottles of wine for truck drivers, surely they must be over the limit when they drive off.

 

[scotjimland]

truck drivers, surely they must be over the limit when they drive off.

lol... yes it's France.. they always have a mid day bevvy ..

 

[chaser]

This is just a small example of truckfly app you can set it for other things as well, fuel doctors and stuff

 

[Bonsaiman]

I've used Les Routiers for years travelling through France, discovered them when holidaying with my parents, had my first taste of horse in an LR, thought I was having a lovely beef stew till my dad told me what it was

Yes, I remember the lorry drivers quaffing red wine then getting in their 40 tonne artics and driving off, always gave them a head start before I followed

 

[Jewellbags]

Was visiting them some 50 years ago when my dad was a long distance lorry driver - one wide eyed young English boy then I can tell you

 

[Charente16]

Our 'local' in Mansle is as previously described full every lunch time - 14 euro with a 1/2 caraffe of wine, coffee extra - with workers, they come in and head straight for their usual table a strong etiquette exists amongst them. Non Regulars and Drop - Ins are accommodated in the Side Room. At our last recent visit to the 'Side Room' some of the Tables had been removed and a large trestle table had been placed to accommodate 12 Gendarmes enjoying a glass of beer with their meal, the amount of fire power on display was formidable.

 

[Ernesto]

I remember being in Lucca railway station in Italy one hot afternoon waiting for a train ....a lovely ornate building with a bar in it.

Two (armed) carabinieri saunter in around 3pm for their expressos and grappa .... one of the many things done better over in Europe - their relationship with alcohol is (largely) so much better

 

[nicholsong]

SSSHH you lot....

......or everyone will be there.

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[chaser]

SSSHH you lot....

......or everyone will be there.

By looking at The amount you see boarded up as you travel about they would appear to need all the advertising they can get.

 

[Dorwyn]

Our 'local' in Mansle is as previously described full every lunch time - 14 euro with a 1/2 caraffe of wine, coffee extra - with workers, they come in and head straight for their usual table a strong etiquette exists amongst them. Non Regulars and Drop - Ins are accommodated in the Side Room. At our last recent visit to the 'Side Room' some of the Tables had been removed and a large trestle table had been placed to accommodate 12 Gendarmes enjoying a glass of beer with their meal, the amount of fire power on display was formidable.

Mansle is closed at the moment isn't it? At least from the N10. We will be passing through on Samedi. Routiers will be closed too!

 

[Charente16]

Mansle is closed at the moment isn't it? At least from the N10. We will be passing through on Samedi. Routiers will be closed too!

THe Grande Rue - Mansle's main street - is now open again after sorting out a problem with the new sewage line, the installation of that took three months. Road closure on the Aigre Rpad but that only affects lorries'.

By the time you next visit we will have two exits off the N10, north and south.

Try the La Belle Etoile on the Grand Rue you won't be disappointed. You can park by the camp ground/Hippodrome and walk across the bridge.

 

[Shrimp]

When we property sat through 4 winters in France there was one nearby, went a few times and they are good.
Food is good and plenty of drink.

 

[L' Hobo]

Les Routiers were going when I first started trucking over there 50+yrs ago.
lF I remember correctly, back then, we had some sort of membership card?

 

[Dorwyn]

THe Grande Rue - Mansle's main street - is now open again after sorting out a problem with the new sewage line, the installation of that took three months. Road closure on the Aigre Rpad but that only affects lorries'.

By the time you next visit we will have two exits off the N10, north and south.

Try the La Belle Etoile on the Grand Rue you won't be disappointed. You can park by the camp ground/Hippodrome and walk across the bridge.

That's where we launched on the way south. The bourne and waste dump there was disgusting! Someone had dumped their black waste, blocked the drainoff and it was swimming in the smelly stuff. It only takes one idiot! We do often stop there though, have done for decades. Used to use the campsite in campervan days. Sometimes ate at the café there. When desperate

 

[DerryW]

We have eaten at a few it's worth it for the food and the experience.

Cor, that reminds me, a regular stop on route to Italy via back in the 70's, always stopped at the bakehouse between Macon and
Bourg en bresse. before climbing up to the old mont blanc tunnel.

 

[scotjimland]

I should have mentioned it was an evening meal we had, started serving at 7 pm .

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[Jo662]

We have stopped at a few. And some have showers you can use. A lot of truckers, stay in the car parks ,so can partake more than the odd glass of wine.

 

[Edenside]

Have eaten at La Belle on N10 many years ago & also in Limoges when travelling by car as it’s near the B&B Hotel, we order buffet starter then dessert

Would be good to see details of favourite La Routiers & details of lunch or evening opening times from people with first hand knowledge. Language is a problem for us so would be good to know if it’s self service buffet etc etc

 

[Spriddler]

As a student of French medieval history for the past 20 years the term 'Routiers' to me means bands of unemployed mercenaries which has some relevance to today's caffs for travellers. Between lucrative battles gangs of homeless unemployed rambling routiers would pillage villages for food and accommodation which was no doubt the motivation for the villagers to feed them voluntarily.
The routiers' history can be traced back to a few years after the start of the Hundred Years' War, to Brittany in the early 1340s. No revenue was being generated from the revenues of the Duchy of Brittany for the English army, which meant that they weren't paid nor benefited from handsome ransom payments for captured enemy soldiers so had to live off the land. This 'living off the land' began as simple freebooting, but quickly transformed into patis, or 'ransoms of the country'. A village near a garrison would usually be ransacked for any supplies. Subsequently, the village would be forced to pay the respective garrison for future protection.