REGION : Blois – Centre – Val de Loire
ATMOSPHERE : On the water
STYLE : Gastronomic hotel
CATEGORY: 5*
ROOMS : 44 rooms including 11 suites
Members benefits
Breakfast, welcome gifts and 100euro F&B credit
LOCATION
Between Orleans and Tours, in the Loire Valley, a territory classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Also called “the valley of kings”, the region was once the favored corner of France’s monarchs. There are a thousand castles of all sizes and styles, some of which are known around the world, including Blois, Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Chambord and Chenonceau. This is the land of history and wine (Touraine, Cheverny, Chinon…), old nature, and deep forests.
OVERVIEW
Owned by two-starred chef Christophe Hay, Fleur de Loire is more than a beautiful hotel: it’s a restaurant where you can also stay the night. What does that mean? Everything here has been designed to put cuisine at the heart of the establishment in order to offer an immersive, eco-friendly, sophisticated experience that promotes the local terroir, bringing multiple tiers of history up to date in one fell swoop. First, the site. Located on the left bank of the Loire River, Fleur de Loire faces the historic center of Blois and its regal castle, housed in a former hospice once commissioned by Gaston d’Orléans, son of Henri IV and Marie de Médicis. That’s just for context. Inside, both the restaurants and the 44 rooms, including 11 suites, follow the river’s roaming movement. Creamy sandbank whites and stone mineral grays reign supreme, punctuated by green or blue, gold and brass, old beams and more modern woods, wallpapers depicting dragonflies and splendid foliage. Velvets, rich fabrics, and noble materials dress the ensemble – half zen, half soft, with openings, according to the floors, onto private terraces or the flows of the Loire, the grounding source of energy for this unmissable, cozy stayover.
GASTRONOMIC RESTAURANT – Housed on the second floor of the central building, this is unquestionably the king’s space. The “chef-countryman” Christophe Hay, who lends his name to the restaurant, has imagined a calm cocoon that is not without its surprises, in the image of the Loire, the last wild river in Europe, which proves to be much less docile than it appears. On the menu? Traditional local vegetable varieties that have found new roots in the garden (purple celery from Tours, sweet melon from Tours…), citrus fruits grown in his greenhouse, Wagyu cattle from his own herd, fish from the Loire, honey from the garden, caviar from Sologne… The central open kitchen is extended by the chef’s table.
AMOUR BLANC RESTAURANT – A second dining experience, Amour Blanc, is located in the hotel’s contemporary extension, named after a colossal carp from Asia, offering semi-gastronomic cuisine with a view of the River Loire.
PASTRY KIOSK – On the ground floor, a couture space that is part boutique, part tea room and part delicatessen, where you can indulge in the creations of pastry chef Maxime Maniez, as well as the house’s own vinegars, jellies, and honeys.
WELLNESS & FITNESS – Designed by Sisley, a brand based in Blois, the 450 m2 spa has five treatment rooms, one of which is a double room, a whirlpool, a 15-meter long indoor pool, a sauna, a hammam and a tea room. A fitness studio designed by Champion Spirit is also available.
SWIMMING POOLS – In addition to the indoor pool in the wellness area, an outdoor pool with a view of the city and the Loire River is installed on the terrace. Ideal for brushing up on your Alexandre Dumas or serenely lounging in the peace and quiet.
GARDEN – Located 200 meters from Fleur de Loire, Christophe Hay’s vegetable garden, cultivated in permaculture by gardener Alain Gaillard, includes a asparagus plantation. It can be visited on request.
BAR – Cozy as you’ll find, dabble in regional wines and dazzling cocktails based on bourbon infused with Wagyu beef, maple syrup and chartreuse; tequila, mango syrup and curry infusions, as well as fried Loire fish, an assortment of smoked fish, waffle sandwiches and garden salads.
ECORESPONSIBILITY – Reconciling luxury and sustainability is Fleur de Loire’s goal. The air-conditioning system operates on a closed water circuit, the building’s energy is wind-powered, while shower gel, soap and shampoos are manufactured by the Savonnerie des Muids located 20 km away, and the use of plastic is limited to a strict minimum…
