It seems one of my favorite spots in the south of France, The Auberge de Tourrettes, has been sold and is now under new management.
The news hit me like a ton of croissants.
Village view from the the back terrace
The Auberge has held the top spot on my “favorites” list for many years.
This small property on the outskirts of the village of Tourrettes sur Loup has housed my wedding guests, organized superb wine tastings, and provided me with countless delicious meals and glasses of wine.
I always looked forward to a quiet dinner on the small terrace with the ever-present aroma of fresh flowers and the sublime view of the Mediterranean across the broad Loup Valley.
Will it ever be the same?
Will the new owners continue to operate with the same attention to detail and service?
I’ll try to let you know soon….
Le Stuff 
Thanks for the heads-up. You *will* be my travel advisers one of these days when I finally get to France.
R
Quelle domage! The Auberge de Tourrettes is a delightful place. I certainly hope the new owners will maintain the warm, friendly atmosphere. It’s a favorite spot of mine for lunch, under a big umbrella, on the terrace. After strolling through town on the grande rue I always stop for tasty food, delightful and friendly service, and the calming view to the sea. I suggest everyone include Tourrettes-sur-Loup on their itinerary and don’t forget to stop in the Auberge for a delicious meal.
First of all, thank you for a great blog! It’s great to hear from someone else who also loves the Côte d’Azur …and “To catch a Thief”!
I worked (and lived) at the Auberge de Tourrettes after I graduated highschool 10 years ago as a waiter, gardener (I kept the small herb garden) and helped in the kitchen, so I know the people who owns it.
It hasn’t exactly been sold, the partners just couldn’t agree, so one of them, (the brilliant chef and brain behind it all) Christophe Dufau, started a new restaurant in the old part of town instead, Les Bacchanales. Very cosy place, but quite small. After a couple of years, he moved the restaurant to a bigger location in Vence, near the Matisse chapel. The decor is somewhat different than at the Auberge, but of course the extravagant cuisine remains just as interesting as before.
The Auberge is still owned by the Danish businessman Christian Nielsen, who has hired a new chef to run the place. The place is more or less the same, but I personally think that part of the warm atmosphere left with the Dufau family.
You can read about Christophe’s new place here: http://www.lesbacchanales.com.
Another nice restaurant – somewhat more mainstream – in Tourrettes is La Grange (www.lagrangetourrettes.com) on the town square. They’ve got a great terrace (not nearly as nice as the one at the Auberge, though). Yet another great place in Tourrettes is the culinary school up the road behind Café du Midi that offers cooking classes for (mostly) foreigners. See http://www.fusagersandager.dk for details.
I really miss living in Tourrettes-sur-Loup – the people there were so warm and welcoming, and I quickly became part of the local society. And the old part of town – ahh, gotta love that place!