Meurthe-et-Moselle. Truck Stops Are Fewer and Fewer: The End of an Era?

An endangered species, roadside restaurants are diversifying their offerings to stay afloat. A rare establishment to retain the label in Meurthe-et-Moselle, Instant Terroir, located in Laneuveville-devant-Bayon, not far from the Nancy-Épinal highway, still cultivates the spirit of this roadside community. One evening along the D9.

Like many other restaurants, the Instant Terroir in Laneuveville-devant-Bayon receives a large number of roadside customers, the vast majority of whom come for dinner. Photo A. H. — Like many other restaurants, the Instant Terroir in Laneuveville-devant-Bayon receives a large number of roadside customers, the vast majority of whom come for dinner. Photo AH

Les Routiers, the red and blue circle emblem indicating truck stops, is disappearing from the roadsides. There were 5,000 of them on France's roads in the 1960s, 1,000 in 2010, while the current estimate is around 350 establishments. Places where truckers park, eat, shower, sleep safely (and their goods too), chat, and sometimes meet up with colleagues.

Between Nancy and Épinal, slightly off the main road, just before...

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