And what if autumn was the best season to savour the pleasures of the Ile de Ré? The month of October will enjoy a little taste of Indian summer in the Toiras, the first fist 5-star hotel on the island. SoBARNES gives you a sneak peek
Saint-Martin-de-Ré, the island’s capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You might already have known that, having roamed through its winding streets and port all summer long. This postcard setting is also that of the Hôtel de Toiras (and its twin sister the Villa Clarisse). And you might have also already known that these two Relais & Châteaux, firmly anchored in the 17th and 18th centuries, have earned their noble acclaim for years now. But what you might not have known is that whilst the Villa Clarisse has just closed its doors for a well-deserved winter rest, the Toiras hotel is going into extra time until the end of October, so that we can discover the Ile de Ré in All Saints' Day mode (and in SoBARNES mode, of course).
Four centuries old, the stone façades of the Hôtel de Toiras dominate with their rustic elegance the entrance to the port of Saint-Martin-de-Ré. This former ship-owner's residence with its typically Ile de Ré architecture conceals behind its walls this little gem of a charming hotel, which was the first 5-star hotel in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
Staying in its 20 rooms and suites is like taking a trip back in time, magically inspired by the region’s prominent personalities, their tastes and their works. From the Madame de Sévigné suite equipped with a desk area for correspondence (of course!) and the Pierre Loti suite nestled under the roof, which evokes the exotic regions dear to the celebrated novelist from Charente, to the George Washington presidential suite (whose ancestor Nicolas Martiau was originally from Ré), and the very British suite of the Duke of Buckingham, the Toiras proudly features a remarkable historical-cultural eclecticism!
And, not to spoil anything, chef Thibaut Peyroche d'Arnaud has created an eco-responsible seasonal menu at the hotel restaurant, La Table d’Olivia, which you can comfortably enjoy in #staysafe mode. This new menu is based on local products, mainly from the sea, such as organic oysters from Frédéric Voisin in Loix or fresh fish from the fishermen of Bois-Plage. The chef's aim is to work in short circuits, respecting the local fish fauna and endangered species. It’s an approach we can only applaud, wouldn’t you say?
And take a tip from a friend, if you’re tempted like we are, don’t delay! There are just a few weeks left to enjoy it before the Toiras sets sail again, only coming back to port when the warm weather returns...
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Hôtel de Toiras, 1, quai Job-Foran, 17410 Saint-Martin-de-Ré - FRANCE
Tel. : +33 5 46 35 40 32 / [email protected] / Toiras.com / Relaischateaux.com
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