A weekend at Relais Thalasso Château des Tourelles
Château des Tourelles stands facing the Atlantic, almost with its feet in the sand. We arrived on a Friday at the end of the afternoon with only one plan: not to make any plans at all. Two days later, we left with fresher faces, relaxed muscles, and that rare feeling of having pressed pause on the world. Here is what we experienced.
Clara, our watersports specialist, is the team’s adventure lover who enjoys everything the ocean has to offer.
Julie is more about carving out moments of pure relaxation whenever she can. Even better when she gets to bring along her dog, Gaïa.
Arrival at Relais Thalasso Château des Tourelles
The moment you step inside, your eyes are instantly drawn toward the ocean. Château des Tourelles, closely tied to the story of Louis Flornoy in Pornichet’s history, has preserved the elegance of its period façade while offering a warm, contemporary interior that opens beautifully onto the Atlantic.
The welcome feels impeccable. From the valet to the reception team, everyone makes you feel genuinely looked after. We’re guided to our room: bright, cosy, filled with that beautiful late-afternoon light pouring through the sea-facing windows.
A detail worth mentioning for anyone travelling with a four-legged companion: the hotel is dog-friendly and even prepares a welcome kit for dogs.
At the foot of the château, small secluded beaches invite you for a first walk, barefoot on the damp sand, once the suitcases have finally been unpacked.
- Duration: Weekend stay (2 nights recommended)
- Location: Pornichet seafront
- Pets : Dogs welcome in rooms with dedicated welcome kit
- Facilities: Marine spa, restaurant, bar with sea-view terrace
Two days of treatments, gastronomy and sunset views
To start the weekend properly, after a beautiful walk along the coastal trail, we leave Gaïa resting comfortably in the room and head down to the marine spa. Slipping into a warm seawater bath while gazing through the huge bay window overlooking the ocean — it is exactly the kind of moment when your body realises before your mind that you are officially on holiday. The seawater quietly works its magic while you do absolutely nothing.
After several minutes (or was it hours? You quickly lose track of time) enjoying the spa, daylight begins to fade. We throw on our bathrobes just in time so as not to miss the sunset from the balcony of our room. Golden tones slowly shift into pink, the Atlantic turns mirror-like, and suddenly we understand why Pornichet’s first holidaymakers came here in search of this very atmosphere.
Dinner is served at the restaurant, with the Atlantic stretching endlessly in the background. The market menu offers three options — vegetarian, meat or fish — and before winding down for the evening, we treat ourselves to the bar’s signature cocktail. Afterwards, everything slows beautifully: a hot drink, a book, and soft sheets waiting.
The next morning, we head straight to the coastal trail for a sunrise run. Others prefer to take things a little slower.
Breakfast at the restaurant offers a generous selection to satisfy every appetite. And if you happen to stay on a Sunday, the unlimited brunch with its three buffet stations is an experience all on its own. You taste, you go back, and then you go back again.
In the afternoon, it is time for thalassotherapy treatments. Body scrub, hydro-massage bath, seaweed wrap, marine rain massage — every treatment uses locally sourced seawater, filtered and heated to maximise its benefits.
Between treatments, we settle onto the bar terrace, where the panoramic ocean views rival those from the sea-facing rooms. And somewhere in the middle of it all, we catch ourselves thinking: This feels incredibly good. But as we all know, the best moments eventually come to an end.
Book your stay at Relais Thalasso Château des Tourelles
Relais Thalasso Château des Tourelles offers stays combining accommodation and thalassotherapy treatments. Packages can be tailored depending on the length of stay and preferred treatments. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of thalassotherapy in Pornichet, we have prepared a complete guide for you.
At the tip of Le Bec, facing the Atlantic Ocean, the 4-star Relais Thalasso Château des Tourelles offers a timeless interlude. There's no noise here: just the sea as far as the eye can see and the elegance of a place steeped in history.
