A Secret French Seaside Paradise

Fly to Paris (we can help you organize a few days in the City of Light before or after the trip) and take the TGV train from Gare Montparnasse to La Rochelle. We can help with arrangements. It’s a beautiful 3-hour train ride through the French countryside. We’ll meet you at the train station and head off on the scenic ride across the iconic 3km bridge connecting the mainland to Île de Ré. We’ll begin our 3-day immersion in sun, sea, and sand with lunch on the beach at Le Cible.

After lunch, we’ll settle in at La Baronnie Hotel and Spa, our privileged oasis in the heart of St Martin, Ré’s capital … before an afternoon tour of key St Martin monuments, including Vauban’s UNESCO World Heritage Citadel and the church bell tower with a panoramic view of the island. We’ll stroll back to the hotel along the quay, stopping at an insider selection of boutiques.

The hotel’s elegant bar is our RDV point for a welcome drink before dinner in town.

After an al fresco breakfast in the hotel garden, we visit the lively market in La Flotte. After exploring the market we will stop for lunch at Les Pieds dans l'Eau.

After lunch, you'll have free time to shop and explore the chic boutiques. We will stop for a treat at la Martinière for arguably the best ice cream cone outside of Paris. Anyone for caramel fleur de sel?

Early evening we'll embark on a catamaran excursion along the coast. Our captain will share his knowledge of the island and stop at one of the finest beaches for a refreshing swim before docking in Saint Martin. 

Dinner tonight is at Neo Bistrot le Serghi.

We begin our last day on the island in Ars, another “Plus Beaux Village,” where galleries, cafes, and whimsical boutiques beckon along its charming, cobbled streets. Our tour begins at St. Etienne’s church with its Romanesque portal and graphic, black-tipped steeple that serves as a beacon to mariners.  

Flat topography, beautiful scenery, and 150 km of  bike trails make cycling the ideal way to travel around the island. We’ll set off on electric bikes for the “Marais salants. We will e-bike through the salt marshes with a stop at a saunier production site. Casey will explain to us the history of the marshes and the production process. Afterwards we will bike to our fun restaurant destination La Cabane L'huitre du Saunier. It's a converted oysterman’s cabin overlooking the beds.

 After lunch we will continue on with our e-bike advendure. The return trail takes us through a pristine nature preserve, home to 230 wildlife species. (We'll drive those who prefer not to cycle to the various destinations.) 

Early evening we will enjoy a tasting of wine and pineau de Charante at the impressive new wine cooperative and distillerie. 

Dinner is on your own tonight. We'll provide a range of recommendations for a memorable meal. 

We return to historic La Rochelle, the splendid port that has inspired more French painters than any other – most famously Corot and Signac. Our visit includes 3 iconic towers guarding the harbor – one of which is France’s oldest lighthouse, a Cathedral dedicated to French monarch St. Louis, and the neoclassical town center with mansions built by merchants enriched through early international trade.

Lunch is at Yole de Chris, overlooking the waterfront, the bistro of La Rochelle’s 3-star Michelin chef. After lunch we will tour the New World Museum following a visit to the Crillos Artisan Chocolatier.

 Back at the historic port, we will check into Maison des Ambassadeurs where we'll spend the next three nights.

Dinner is at the bistronomic restaurant, featuring fresh local-sourced ingredients.

Market day in La Rochelle is not to be missed. We will start the day marveling at the tempting produce displayed in the bustling food hall and surrounding street market stalls. Next, we will drive inland across the graceful Charentais countryside to the magnificent Chateau and Gardens of La Roche Courbon. A medieval fortress after the 100 Years' War in the 17th Century, the building was converted into a pleasure palace surrounded by formal French gardens. It was neglected from the 19th century until the current owner's grandfather started a restoration campaign. The splendid gardens have been acknowledged with the "Remarkable Garden" award.

Our next destination is the historic town of Rochefort, where the Sun King and his minister Colbert established the national arsenal in 1666. We will stop for lunch at The Marydiane, whose menu features regional specialties made with seasonal produce from the finest local suppliers.

Our afternoon visit is to the Begonia d’Or atelier, whose director is France’s only Maître d’art of golden embroidery. The artisans create custom pieces for top Parisian couture, luxury accessory, and interior design brands, restore period furnishings and clothing, transmit their knowledge through workshops, and design their own embroidered items sold in the boutique. Rochefort’s legacy of gold embroidery traces back to the embellishment of military uniforms.

Before returning to La Rochelle, we'll stroll through the park and garden that leads to the old naval port on the Charente River, where the famous frigate Hermione is docked next to the former Corderie Royale.

Dinner in La Rochelle is at the cozy Bistro, La Kase.

Sunday morning, when the streets are quiet, is the ideal time for our private walking tour. A local guide will share insider knowledge of the town's rich history as a launching point for global exploration, a Protestant stronghold, and a prosperous commercial hub through the centuries.

Lunch today is on your own, followed by a free afternoon to explore, shop, and relax.

We'll reconvene for a celebratory farewell dinner at the chic eatery  Les Flots to savor shared memories and new friendships!

Following breakfast, our drivers will return us to the TGV station in Rochelle (35-minute drive) to catch a return train to Paris.