The 20 Best Loire Valley Boutique Hotels

The Loire Valley has long been a favourite holiday destination with its beautiful chateaux, rolling countryside and renowned cuisine. Therefore, it is hardly surprising, that there are a great range of hotels to choose from. However, our Hotel Gurus always favour the boutique - individual and personal - a boutique stay offers comfort, style and an experience unique to the location. The best boutique hotels in the Loire valley are widely varied from great value stays to self-catering cottages ideal for families; renovated chateaux to beautiful vineyards. Our list includes hotels hand-selected on their style, location, service, and amenities, so why not browse through our collection to start planning your trip?

For luxury

• Hotel Chateau du Grand Luce is perfect for weddings or honeymoons. Neoclassical luxury at its most ornate: frescoed walls, heavy and colourful drapes, furnishings in sky-blues and mustard-yellows and gilded paintings - the whole place is utterly decadent. An orangerie, ballroom and pampering spa complete the picture.

For families

• Domaine de la Soucherie is a good option for families seeking an affordable (yet stylish) boutique hotel. The self-catering cottage is a good place to start, with its smartly designed rustic-chic decor with exposed wooden beams and designer pieces. The pool is obviously a delight, the views of the vineyards are enchanting, and the wine-pairings with table d'hotes are a real treat!
• Le Roseraie also offers self-catering options (that sleeps up to five) plus there is a babysitting service too. A charming 19th-century property in the medieval village of Montignac boasting a lagoon-like pool. Chic yet traditional, with its antiques and chintzy fabrics sit alongside bright colours and artisan furniture. The price tag is very attractive too.
• The ivy-clad Chateau de L'Epinay is a rural gem and a great family-friendly boutique. The spacious steepled rooms boast four-posters, chandeliers and antiques - all in a chic colour scheme. Kids can play in the playground while the adults unwind in the spa and, of course, there is a pool too.

For couples

• There's something enchanting about La Closerie St Martin. A romantic boutique and the perfect hideaway for couples. A leafy, blue-shuttered, limestone farmhouse in a garden of statues and flowers. Offering warm and rustic rooms furnished with antiques, four-posters and well-selected modern art. The ancient wine cellar and superb table d'hotes complete the picture.
• A cool and contemporary former coaching inn, L'Aubiniere is primed for relaxation, making it a great choice for a couples' rural hideaway. A small, smart hotel offering modern, intimate rooms and a spoiling spa complete with a sauna, steam room, hot tub and experiential showers. There's a stylish restaurant too, using seasonal food from the garden.
• Le Prieure de St Agnan is an incredibly romantic B&B hidden in the Loire Valley. Rooms are warm and unique with plenty of wood, whitewashed furnishings, antique pianos, fireplaces and floral artworks. A pretty garden houses a lovely swimming pool - a great choice for a tranquil break for two.
• Empreinte Hotel is a stylish boutique for a romantic break in the Loire Valley. In the historic centre of Orleans, this brooding 4-star on the banks of the River Loire is perfect for couples: the individually-styled, glitzy designer rooms have an amorous vibe, and the best come with a private hot tub.
• For a cosy couples' hideaway, La Penesais is an idyllic option. An enchanting limestone chateau on sprawling grounds. The elegant rooms are snug, warm and homely with wooden beams, fireplaces, off-white walls and chic bedspreads - an atmospheric and romantic choice.

For a B&B

• Chateau des Grotteaux is a stately B&B in an idyllic riverside location flanked by meadows of wildflowers, ancient woodland and rolling parkland. A great boutique for a country escape in the Loire Valley, it's very serene, complete with a swimming pool and tennis courts. The drawing room is wood-panelled, the walls hung with oil paintings, while the elegant rooms are pretty chic.
• La Folie St Julien is a small and tranquil B&B. The definition of rustic-chic, its rooms have whitewashed beams, gilded picture frames, antiques and scarlet walls. The pool in the old stone outbuilding is a particular highlight and the breakfasts are fantastic - perfect for a bit of peace and quiet.
• Hotel St Pierre is a hipster's dream. Boasting unique, quirky rooms of faded walls interspersed with bright colours, vintage furniture and designer pieces. The vibe of this eclectic Loire Valley B&B is chic yet homely and makes for a perfect sightseeing stay in Saumur.

On a budget

• Villa C is cheap and cheery - a chic boutique in the outskirts of Bourges. Offering modern rooms with stylish splashes of colour, floor-to-ceiling windows and wide private terraces (perfect for that morning cup of coffee as you take in the view). It scores highly with couples, and families love the interconnecting rooms.

For urban cool

• A townhouse in Saumur dating back to the 19th-century, Le Londres has been given a seriously chic modern makeover. Families love the light-filled interconnecting rooms and spacious apartments, with their bold colourful walls, elegant layout and smart furnishings. Hire the hotel's own boat and float down the Loire River - a smart yet simple choice.
• With that hipsterish, unfinished vibe that just feels so French, Maison Gaspards is definitely one of the coolest boutiques in the Loire Valley. In the heart of Saumur, above a restaurant run by the owners, these suites and self-catering apartments are rustic-chic affairs: exposed stone walls and artisan furnishings. Boho-chic.

For a historic stay

• Fontevraud L'Hotel is one of the most unique boutique hotels in the region. Set in one-thousand-year-old Fontevraud Royal Abbey, with its dreamy, ancient cloisters and award-winning cuisine. The whole place has been given a contemporary renovation, but the soul remains the same.
• Relais de Chambard has one of the most unbeatable locations in the Loire Valley - on the private grounds of the UNESCO-listed Chateau de Chambard. The views from the chic, simple rooms and restaurant terrace of this fairytale-like castle are truly enchanting. Guests can explore the wildlife-rich forest by foot or bike and stroll through the stunning grounds.
• Sozo Hotel is a modern boutique set in a 19th-century church. Stained glass windows and arched ceilings stand alongside plush, minimalist off-white decor, all overlooking the Botanic Gardens of Nantes. The bar, housed in the nave, is a cool touch!

Still not sure where to book?

• Browse through our collection of the best wine hotels in the Loire Valley;
• Alternatively, expand your search to include all our properties in the Loire Valley.
• Or contact one of our Gurus for advice.

 

Written by Edmund Wise

posted Monday, 5th June 2023