Le Gué des Bateliers

At 8:30 in the morning, they were out of the seed baguettes that cost about €1.50. I ended up buying a corn baguette and a bamboo baguette for €2.50, over 16 francs. I mentioned the issue, but the baker didn’t seem bothered. It’s a nice bakery, but don’t push it. I won’t be going back.

The bakery is the part I’d recommend. The owner knows his trade there. We chose the Gué des Bateliers for a night while touring Burgundy, and the room photos online looked appealing, with privacy and a kitchenette advertised. But the hotel seemed full that day, with us as a couple and a truck driver on the terrace. Our room had a low ceiling, no TV, and a noisy macerator toilet. There’s no night reception, so if something goes wrong you’re on your own. The owners were friendly enough, with no fuss, and the basic welcome was there. Dinner, though, meant pizza and only pizza, with ham and cheese, chorizo and cheese, or three cheeses. The owner is a baker rather than a pizza maker, and the bread dough made the pizzas overcooked and heavy. I couldn’t finish mine. The doggy bag for the pizza was great, at least. Trying to take on too much can leave the important details neglected. For everything beyond the bakery, I’d look elsewhere.

The rooms are upstairs, with six bedrooms, each furnished with a double bed, private bathroom, and separate toilet. They’re tastefully done. Outside, there are horses and chickens, plus a lovely terrace looking over the canal. The setting is beautiful, with fields all around and a small canal beside it. The owners are very friendly, and in the restaurant’s huge dining room fireplace, they roast a pig on a spit every day. Highly recommended!

We were driving from the Île-de-France region to the Hautes-Alpes along the N6 and stopped here for lunch. So glad we did. The welcome was warm, the food was excellent, and the roast pork and tart were both delicious. It’s a distinctive setting, with a huge fireplace, and very good value for money. We highly recommend it.