At a Glance
For island insiders, the Sénéchal is a discreetly charming address in the center of Ars, a town with laid-back charm that many longtime visitors prefer to Saint Martin’s scene.
Review
With its Gothic Saint-Etienne church, pristine old town and refined port scene, the western village of Ars-en-Ré is the island’s unofficial intellectual and cultural capital. Cozy boutique Hôtel Le Sénéchal is the perfect spot, if you prefer to be based here. The 22 rooms are all different in layout, since the hotel is made up of a cluster of fishermen’s cottages that have been connected by narrow stairways.
All share a modern-meets-seaside-chic style, with exposed brick walls and unfussy décor (the owners are a local architect, Christophe Ducharme, and his wife, Marina). The interior gardens are a marvel, and there’s a small pool. Room to get: number 25, an airy space with romantic touches, like a working fireplace and views of the Ars church and village rooftops, or room 4-5 with its extra spacious interior, sitting area and private deck. Note that if you're visiting in summer, air-conditioning is not typical in the area and only a few rooms have units.
Written by Simone Girner