Fleur de Loire: chef Christophe Hay’s showcase on his way to a third Michelin star

Fleur de Loire, 3 key points to remember

• First, the decor. Interior designer Caroline Tissier has created a masterly design for Fleur de Loire hotel. Contemporary tones of powder gray and duck blue, variations of white and beige in the rooms and suites, two luminous dining rooms with every element reminiscent of the Loire, a colorful bar adorned with magnificent period pillars, an outdoor pool, a long indoor swimming corridor and a superb spa. The whole is so well done that as soon as you enter a room, you'll find yourself in the grip of yet another "wow" effect. The immense 17th-century U-shaped building (5,000 m²), once a hospice, is impressive both inside and out, and without a false note.

• Along the river, in the heart of Blois, chef Christophe Hay has built Fleur de Loire into a showcase worthy of his talent. Primarily conceived as a gastronomic destination, Fleur de Loire comprises two restaurants. The larger, named "Christophe Hay", is a masterful illustration of the philosophy of the chef, who was in turn a pupil of Paul Bocuse, head chef of the Paris restaurants of the B Signature hotel group before earning 2 Michelin stars at his Maison d'à Côté in Montlivault, 10 kilometers away. The cuisine features his unmissable specialties: carp à la Chambord (snacked carp, red wine sauce, crayfish, truffles, bacon...), wagyu beef from his own breeding, truffles from his own truffle farm... and delivers a steady stream of new dishes. In July, a barbeau (Loire fish) combined with rapeseed, unimaginably fine, or a soufflé of pike escorted by vegetables from the chef's immense organic permaculture garden. The second restaurant, Amour Blanc, is not to be outdone. It's clearly aiming for a Michelin macaron, with a kitchen open to products from elsewhere, and the spectacle of the Loire River through immense bay windows. On the first floor, the pastry kiosk is already a hit...

• In addition to the quality of the two restaurants, the 5-star hotel is well worth a visit for its design and comfort, as well as for the activities and services on offer. Located along the "Loire by bike" route, Fleur de Loire offers electric bikes and even family scooters for a ride. The Sisley spa, vast and highly well done, puts Fleur de Loire high on the list of the most beautiful hotels with spa near Paris. The riverside outdoor swimming pool invites you to relax and refresh. Last but not least, the new Relais & Châteaux is located in the immediate vicinity of the châteaux of the Loire Valley, with Blois just a few minutes away on foot, Chambord (16 km) and Chaumont-sur-Loire (17 km), less well known but nevertheless much appreciated, with good reason, for its unique and spectacular gardens.

Fleur de Loire in pictures

The establishment boasts 44 keys, 2 restaurants and a Sisley spa

Decorator Caroline Tissier has designed a resolutely contemporary lobby

Rooms are designed as jewel cases, inspired by the Sologne and Loire regions

Private terraces on the first floor and views of the Loire on the second floor

The Duplex Suite rises over two floors, as seen here in the living room

The Suite Duplex bedroom

The hotel, conceived as a Maison Gastronomique, houses the gastronomic restaurant of 2-star Michelin chef Christophe Hay

Located in the center of the building, the restaurant enjoys a majestic panorama of the river

It's impossible to talk about the Loire without mentioning its vineyards

Other relaxation areas include the fireplace lounge and terrace

The hotel's second restaurant, Amour Blanc, combines gastronomy and conviviality, a prelude to the Fleur de Loire experience

Fleur de Loire
44 rooms and suites from €309 per night
Quai Villebois Mareuil, 41000 Blois