Villa Fontaine

This gorgeous new villa has everything we look for in a property – a heated pool, private enclosed gardens and stunning interiors – plus a great location on the edge of lovely La Flotte.

The sense of space is truly relaxing, with lots of sliding glass blurring the lines between indoors and out. Grab a coffee and savour the sensation of sun-warmed timber beneath your toes, or slip into the 14-metre heated pool to soothe travel-weary muscles. Once evening falls, this is a magical spot for dinner by the pool, perfectly secluded in a walled garden filled with fragrant pines, palms, and semi-tropical plants. Four of the five bedrooms are on the ground floor, helpful for very young or elderly legs, and the pool has a hard cover for extra peace of mind. The size of the villa is also very conducive to an extended or multi-family gathering; inside, there’s a big separate TV room as well as the main lounge, whilst outside you can choose from one of several terraces areas for a sociable pre-dinner drink or a quiet hour with your book.

The location is ideal: tranquil but with enough going on in the local area to appeal to all ages and stages. Older children can reach the beach by themselves, while little ones have the run of the beautiful enclosed grounds as well as the joy of a heated pool. It’s an easy walk or cycle ride to La Flotte, recently added to the official list of France’s ‘most beautiful villages’ and one of the most appealing places on this entire delightful island.

Local area

For shops, cafes, restaurants and a whole stack of island charm, the harbour area of La Flotte is a 10 to 15-minute stroll (900m). This is the social heart of the village, with several places for a drink or a meal at the edge of the sea. Here you’ll also find all your daily essentials from pain to vin, plus a few little luxuries in its boutiques and arty shops. For fresh produce and deli specialities, there’s a daily market too. L'Arnérault beach (1.5km) is accessible in 15-20 minutes on foot, considerably less if you cycle. Bikes rule on the Ile de Ré, and the network of trails connects La Flotte with fortified St Martin de Ré, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and all the other island attractions, from beaches to oyster beds and numerous coastal villages.

Our choice of French properties is diverse, ranging from simple charm to genuine luxury and style. Much of our portfolio is privately owned, and price alone is therefore not a universal guide. We contract all our accommodation in person, and each property has its individual appeal.

To help you make the right choice based on your own priorities, we have devised a simple grading guide to be considered in conjunction with each individual property description, awarding up to a maximum of five stars for the below categories.