Being a guest at Château Boisniard, in Vendée, is like taking a break from our tumultuous lives. Here, time stands still in a place of calm and tranquillity.
This majestic castle, built by the knight Jehan du Puy du Fou at the beginning of the 15th century, is the silent witness of the Vendée wars. The castle was plundered and rebuilt in the 1800's using Vendée granite, which can also be found in the park.
Today, the park perfectly reflects the vision that Jean-Michel Mousset had when he bought the domain in 2004: a place where the living, fauna and flora, whisper in our ears. In this magical place, where the Crûme river has its source, we almost expect to see a druid appear behind the megaliths and rocks.
The 13 hectares surrounding the Château Boisniard, including 4 km of path with animals (peacocks, parakeets, emus, wallabies ...) and 1 hectare in permaculture, offer a multiple biodiversity.
The park, which also offers photo exhibitions or sculptures made from recycled materials (and gives access to Youtube videos thanks to a QR code), is the first in France to have a trail marked out on the fauna and flora, thanks in particular to its partnership with the Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux (LPO). A nice nod to the name of the Domaine, “Boisniard” referring to the bird that is taken from the nest for hunting!
The hotel, no less soothing, with heated outdoor pool, tennis, fitness room and SPA, has been 5-star rated since 2012 and affiliate Hotels & Preference.
The real curiosity lies in the Maisons des Bois, with 10 rooms in the Château and 7 rooms in the Manor. These ten 5-star houses on stilts allow guests to enjoy the hotel's services while contemplating the beauty of nature. Moreover, the Maisons des Bois are built with local chestnut and hemp wool insulation grown in the region.
The Château Boisniard is a privileged hotel partner of the Puy du Fou, located only 3 km away, and also has guaranteed seats in the grandstand throughout the season to enjoy the grandiose event that is the Cinescénie.
You cannot leave Château Boisniard without tasting the gastronomic cuisine offered by chef Valentin Morice at La Table du Boisniard. Valentin is a native of Chambray-lès-Tours and has worked in some of the best restaurants in Paris before working for 4 years at the Domaine de la Bretesche. The chef has been working at Château Boisniard for 7 years and in 2020 he was awarded his first Michelin star. His talent can only be recognized through his Menu Dégustation; a menu highlighting the seasonal fruits and vegetables of the recently created vegetable garden.
The first potatoes of the estate accompanied by a crispy raviole of porcini mushrooms with roasted cocoa skin and its juice with the scent of undergrowth constitute a magnificent starter. When served with the white wine Domaine Courbis Saint-Joseph 2020, it is a delight. Excellent also the Loire pikeperch in gravelax, candied lettuce celtuce, watercress quenelle and smoked fish roe cream with Domaine d'Orfeuille Vouvray 2017, a white wine with mineral flavors, perfectly suited to a fish.
This culinary journey continues with the butternut in hazelnuts crumbs, lemon butter, hazelnuts pulp puree, butternut risotto with hazelnuts and walnuts, paired with the Terre des Chardons "Bien Luné" Costière de Nîmes 2021 red wine. Then we finish with the Landreau orchard apple served in three creations: fir-tree marinated ribbon, macerated peel decoction and caviar vegetable tartlets.
Château Boisniard is definitely a place where good living and good eating go hand in hand.
Thank you to Château Boisniard for its welcome, as well as to Hôtels & Préférence.
Text Sandy Bénard-Ravoisier / Photos Château Boisniard
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