Created from an old farm, this unusual hotel is run with brio by its owner, Jérôme Emery. Spacious grounds with mature trees and hedges protect it from the “industrial surroundings”.

The magnificent white beaches of Île de Ré, offshore from La Rochelle, attract hordes of French holidaymakers in season: advance booking is essential for Anne and Frederic Latour”s charming hotel. 

Connected to the mainland at La Rochelle, by a three-kilometre toll bridge, the Île de Ré has sandy beaches, oyster beds and, out of season, “an air of tranquillity”. 

The Île de Ré, offshore from La Rochelle, is a popular bolthole for wealthy Parisians. It has miles of glorious sandy beaches, an interior of pine forests and vineyards, and plenty of charm (planning regulations forbid unsightly hoardings and oversized buildings).

Facing the sea, near the spectacular bridge which links Oléron to the mainland, this white-fronted property is in a village in the south-east of the island.