The Best Luxury Hotels to Book in France in 2023 - AFAR
"There are hotels with destination restaurants and iconic chefs and then there are destination restaurants that happen to have rooms. Fleur de Loire is a labor of love from chef Christophe Hay on the Loire River that falls somewhere in between. Following his time at La Maison d’à Côté, the award-winning restaurant and inn he ran for eight years in nearby Montlivault, he aimed bigger, taking over this 54,000-square-foot former hospice from the 17th century, erected at the behest of Louis XIII’s brother, Gaston d’Orléans. Hay turned it into both the new home for his fine dining restaurant as well as a Relais & Châteaux hotel & spa. The gastronomically focused hotel offers 44 rooms and suites, plus 2 multicourse restaurants and a pastry shop, that use produce from his 2.5-acre permaculture garden about near the property. A Sisley spa features an indoor and outdoor pool. Environmental considerations go beyond limiting waste and working with local ingredients: The hotel runs on a closed water cooling system that doesn’t require contact with the air. Reservoirs for rainwater allow staff to water the garden while the energy for the building is sourced entirely from wind power. In the guest rooms, amenities come from a local soapmaker, the Savonnerie des Muids, whose products are composed of oils, vinegars, and honey from the Loire (they’re presented in refillable containers). Wood used for furniture throughout the property was drawn from certified sustainable forestry operations. The design scheme, dreamed up by the architect and decorator Caroline Tissier, masterfully evokes the serenity of the river. She made liberal use of wood, brass, and stone and played up a soft aquatic-gold color palette in common areas and restaurants. Rooms feature carpets and linens in sandy tones and nature-inspired custom wallpapers—ideal spots to rest after a memorable meal." - Lindsey Tramuta, Mary Winston Nicklin
