Vaika in one of the most beautiful
villages of France
Summary
A Dog Friendly
Destination?
Gerberoy
Visit of the village
A lunch in
a farmyard
Gerberoy: a “Dog Friendly” destination?
Gerberoy is a small village located in Picardy. We had a wonderful day with Vaika. There were several other dog visitors present and the town seems to welcome them well. Your dog must be on a leash to visit the town and the gardens.
We had no trouble finding Dog Friendly restaurants with terraces.
Gerberoy
The town's website perfectly describes this town, classified as "the most beautiful village in France". Its strategic location on a hill on the border between the ancient kingdoms of France and England made it the scene of many conflicts from the 11th to the 15th centuries. From William the Conqueror, who came to challenge his own son, to the Leaguers, including John Lackland and the Burgundians, the village was besieged, destroyed, pillaged... on numerous occasions! Henry IV, Louis XIII and Richelieu passed through Gerberoy. In the 16th and 17th centuries, plague and fire dealt the final blow to the town, which fell asleep peacefully for two or three centuries...
It was in 1901 that the post-impressionist painter Henri le Sidaner, who had fallen under the spell of Gerberoy, woke up the sleeping beauty. A source of inspiration for many of his paintings, the village quickly became the painter's place of residence, and he became involved in its restoration.
Gerberoy is now known for its architecture and its remarkable flowering, mainly roses, which have earned it a place among the most beautiful villages in France.
The visit of the village
The village is perfect for a stroll. The streets are beautiful and very clean. Few cars drive around and we can appreciate the beauty of the typical houses as well as the flowers that cover the facades. In this little corner of the North of France, time seems to have stopped a long time ago...
Sinader Garden
Gerberoy has several remarkable gardens. We decided to visit "Le Sinader".
The terraces of the old village fortress were transformed into gardens by the painter Henri Le Sidaner. Now classified as a "Remarkable Garden", they can be visited with the painter's studio-museum. The view from the terraces is splendid. Be careful, there are a few steps to climb!
Entrance to the garden cost 5 euros per person when we visited in 2024.
Strolling the streets
Walking through the alleys, you can discover the Saint-Pierre collegiate church rebuilt in the 15th century after being burned down by the English. Be careful, like most religious buildings, this one is not accessible with a dog.
There is also a magnificent 18th century hat shop and in the heart of the village, the old market hall rebuilt at the end of the 17th century houses the municipal museum.
Our lunch in a farmyard
There are plenty of choices in terms of restaurants in Gerberoy. However, the tables fill up quickly.
We had not booked and chose a charming restaurant, " La Belle ferme ", "table d'hôte" type.
The food was very good with typical dishes from Picardy. The very friendly and welcoming manager offered Vaika a bowl of water upon her arrival.
The courtyard of the old farm is a "big plus" because there is a lot of space. The tables are not on top of each other which allows you to be comfortable when you have a dog.
