Château du Portereau

Château du Portereau stands in Vertou, on the edge of Nantes, in three hectares of parkland running down to the Sèvre Nantaise, among Muscadet vineyards and centuries-old trees. Built more than four hundred years ago, it has been home to several families, a hunting estate for the Lefèvre-Utile family, founders of LU biscuits, a house of the Montfort brothers and later the headquarters of Maisons du Monde; after a long restoration it reopened as a hotel in 2026. The original fountain in front of the façade now sends up a six-metre jet of water.

The estate brings together the château and the Pavillon, the former stables, with 26 rooms and suites in all, the gastronomic restaurant L'Attilio, the riverside Guinguette, the Shaman Spa and a heated outdoor pool. Central Nantes is about a quarter of an hour by car.

The château belongs to the Ben Touch group, which oversaw its restoration and reopening. Reception is open 24 hours a day and the staff can arrange walks along the Sèvre and through the vineyards, canoe and bike outings, and visits to Muscadet wineries. Besides the pool, the park holds the Orangerie for events and the Cottage, a self-contained house for ten.

Free private parking with electric vehicle charging, lift, accessible rooms, room service. Pets are welcome; the whole property is non-smoking.

The 26 rooms are split between the château, with twelve, and the Pavillon, with fourteen. They range from classic rooms of 16 to 21 m² overlooking the park or the fountain, through superior and deluxe rooms facing the Sèvre or the Orangerie and sleeping up to three, to junior suites and prestige junior suites of 26 to 37 m² for up to four guests. The décor draws on the history of the house, with bold colours, upholstered headboards and designer lamps.

Amenities: private bathroom with shower, air conditioning, flat-screen TV, minibar, coffee machine and kettle, safe, desk, free Wi-Fi.

L'Attilio is the château's gastronomic restaurant, led by Campanian chef Attilio Marrazzo, who trained with Sergio Mei and Joël Robuchon: French cuisine with Italian accents and seasonal produce, with dishes such as vitello tonnato, pike-perch in beurre blanc and sea bream carpaccio. There are two dining rooms, one beneath the dome of the former chapel, and a south-facing terrace. Five- and seven-course tasting menus are served on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and at Sunday lunch.

Breakfast offers a buffet, continental and gluten-free options. In the warmer months the Guinguette on the banks of the Sèvre serves simpler food outdoors. Vegetarian, vegan and dairy-free dishes are available on request.

The Shaman Spa occupies part of the Pavillon: hammam, sauna, solarium, a relaxation room with herbal tea bar and treatment rooms, with a south-facing terrace and an outdoor hot tub in the park. It is open every day from 10am to 7pm.

The treatment menu includes tailored massages and 60-minute facials, also for couples; access to the facilities is booked in one-hour slots.

Vertou is a small town on the Sèvre Nantaise, on the southern edge of Nantes, where the Muscadet vineyards begin. Footpaths and cycle tracks follow the river, and the surrounding countryside is dotted with small wineries, mills and stone villages.

Central Nantes, with the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany and the Île de Nantes, is about 15 minutes by car; Nantes Atlantique airport is around ten kilometres away. Clisson, with its medieval castle and Italian-style architecture, is about 25 minutes away, the Atlantic coast at Pornic 45 minutes, Guérande and La Baule about an hour.