Cafe Three Pines brings author’s work to life in Quebec’s Eastern Townships

Cafe Three Pines in Quebec's Eastern Townships brings the fictional world of Louise Penny to life.

A fictional world has come to life in the Eastern Townships.

Cafe Three Pines is nestled below Brome Lake Books in Knowlton, and it’s making a buzz.

“When I have people come from out of town I go, ‘Do you want the Louise Penny tour?’ and we just stop everywhere. And this is just a crown jewel,” one local woman said.

If you know the name Louise Penny, then you know the world of Sûreté du Québec chief inspector Armand Gamache. You also know the mystery novel series and Three Pines, the fictional town where the series is set.

“This village of Three Pines, a fictional village, was my ideal. My ideal bakery, my ideal bookshop, my ideal everything. So this whole design, I write about two fireplaces, and it’s really cool,” the famed Canadian author said.

Cafe Three Pines boasts a cozy country-style decor with pieces from Penny’s own home.

She says much like her books, the cafe is a love letter to the province of Quebec, and realizing its vision took more than 20 years.

“I remember the first couple of launches we had for the books [..] ‘Still Life’ and ‘Dead Cold,’ and The Cruelest Month. Nobody came. [...] There was no overnight success,” Penny said.

-

Despite numerous accolades - including being named a New York Times best selling author- Penny exudes a grounded energy.

She greets visitors from around the world as they shop, eat and read.

“The cafe has just added value to those that come here. They can sample, you know, what she’s written about in her books - the Armand’s favorite croissant sandwich, what we serve as the Gamache croissant,” cafe manager Brian Quilliams said.

• READ MORE: Hillary Clinton and Canadian author Louise Penny co-writing mystery novel

Visitors can enjoy Three Pines’ latte art and even Penny’s family recipes.

But most of all, the author hopes to leave visitors knowing this: “No matter who they are, no matter what they think. No matter what their political bent is, they’re accepted here. They can come [to Cafe Three Pines] and they are safe,” she told CTV.