La Mare aux Oiseaux
Eccentric nature retreat meets Michelin-starred gastronomy. Warm, globally-inspired décor — think Balinese stone bathtubs, African lodge aesthetics, and items Guérin has collected from travels worldwide — all surrounded by marsh grasses, herons, and near-total silence. Personal and intimate rather than slick.
The Suites on Stilts have private access to a heated Nordic bath — worth the upgrade especially in cooler months
Why It Matters
Éric Guérin has held a Michelin star here since the early 2000s. The stilted-cabin rooms hovering over the Brière marshes are genuinely unusual — there are not many places in France where you fall asleep to the sound of snipe and wake up to egrets. The hotel is also Ecotable-certified and works with at least 10 local producers, from salt farmers to cheese makers. Three toques from Gault & Millau on top of the Michelin star.
La Mare aux Oiseaux sits on the Île de Fédrun, a small island in the Brière Regional Nature Park, about 30 minutes from Saint-Nazaire. Chef Éric Guérin opened it in 1995 and has spent three decades building something genuinely personal here — thatched cottages, rooms on stilts perched over the marsh, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and a low-key spa. The result is a 4-star hotel that feels more like a slightly eccentric private home than a traditional luxury property.
Where You'll Stay
6 room types available
Duplex Suite
From EUR189 / nightTwo 55 m² duplex suites in the Clos du Rouge-Gorge, a separate area 100–200 metres from the main building. Sleeps up to 4 with a queen bed and sofa bed. The parents' bedroom is upstairs with the bathroom. Private terrace directly adjacent to the wellness area. Surrounded by lush greenery and very close to the marsh.
Queen + sofa bed · 55 sqm
Junior Suite
From EUR279 / nightTwo 40 m² suites including one accessible for guests with reduced mobility. King-size bed, private terrace, and full wellness area access. The accessible suite also has an independent entry with a wisteria-covered pergola terrace — the most practical option for guests who need step-free access.
King · 40 sqm
Plumes (Feathers) Room
From EUR209 / nightThree double rooms plus one triple room, all on the first floor of the main chaumière. At 35 m², these are noticeably more spacious than the Roseaux rooms. One of the doubles has a private terrace. The triple sleeps three with a king bed and an 80cm extra bed.
Queen or King (double); King + 80cm bed (triple) · 35 sqm
Privilege Suite
From EUR309 / nightTwo 40 m² suites also in the Clos du Rouge-Gorge thatched cottage cluster. The standout feature is a Balinese stone bathtub placed in the heart of the room itself — not tucked away in a bathroom. Queen bed and a private terrace next to the wellness area.
Queen · 40 sqm
Roseaux (Reeds) Room
From EUR189 / nightTwo rooms on the first floor of the main thatched chaumière, looking out over the garden. Cosy and stylish with warm tones, bird prints, and travel-collected trinkets. Queen or king-size bed. Access to the wellness area included.
Queen or King · 25 sqm
Suite on Stilts (Pilotis)
From EUR189 / nightThree rooms in a cabin literally elevated on stilts at the edge of the Brière marsh. The feel is African lodge — very close to nature, with bioclimatic verandas and direct private access to a heated Nordic bath shared by the three suites. Two double rooms and one triple (king + sofa bed). You get to the cabin via a grass path through bamboo.
King (double); King + sofa bed (triple) · 35 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Brière is home to sacred ibis, herring gulls, lapwings, white stilts, hundreds of duck species, teals, and barnacle geese. The hotel garden itself has free-roaming cranes, hens, and colourful birds. No guided tours required — they come to you.
Day-in-the-kitchen experience with the Éric Guérin team, mentioned in multiple guest reviews. Availability varies — enquire directly at booking.
The garden at La Mare aux Oiseaux is a genuine attraction — bamboo groves, a small wooden bridge over a stream, sculpted spaces, and live birds roaming freely. Popular with families and anyone who needs to simply slow down.
Flat-bottomed boat excursions through the Brière marshland channels. The property can arrange or point guests to local operators. Reviews frequently mention this as a highlight of a stay — gliding through reed beds with herons and ibis overhead.
The hotel has dedicated seminar and meeting facilities for small groups, with the Michelin-starred restaurant available for private dining events.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Gift vouchers available for stays and spa/massage treatments via the hotel's secretbox platform.
7-person indoor heated pool in a glass conservatory overlooking the marsh.
Private heated outdoor Nordic bath with direct access for guests in the three Stilts Suites.
BUILD YOUR LA MARE AUX OISEAUX PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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