This attractive contemporary holiday home puts you within easy reach of everything you might want for a relaxed week or so on this most charming of islands, conveniently located within walking distance of La Flotte’s harbour, market, shops, bars and restaurants. And if you opt to bring or hire a bike, getting around is even easier, with Arnérault beach less than 10 minutes’ cycle ride away. All this adds up to a wonderful base for a family with tweens or teens, who can flex their burgeoning independence by exploring the small town and beach by themselves if they wish. And for younger ones, the enclosed, south-west facing garden is a lovely little holiday oasis, complete with shady dining area and a heated pool, ideal for that first swim lesson or an early season break when the sea can be a little bracing!

With its red tiled roof and traditional green shutters, Villa Bernache has all the character you’d expect in a La Flotte town house, complemented by thoughtful extras to make your holiday as effortless as it is enjoyable. There’s a laundry room so you can pack light, plus storage space for your bikes and surf boards if needed, and an electric pool cover for greater peace of mind. But perhaps the greatest convenience of all is to be able wander into La Flotte along its winding roads and narrow alleyways, lined with the tall hollyhocks that are the symbol of the island, and enjoy browsing the famous market for top quality Ile de Ré goodies, or dining at one of the many restaurants clustered around the harbour.

Local area

La Flotte’s harbour was once an important sea port, and the rather grand houses around the waterfront attest to this prosperous time. Today it holds coveted ‘Plus Beaux Villages de France’ status, and the action centres around the medieval market place, which is the oldest on the island, and your go-to for local produce, picnic goodies and foodie souvenirs. The town beach is the Plage de l'Arnérault, and there are many others to choose from on the south of the island, with a range of watersports including wind and kite-surfing, body and paddle-boarding in the main summer months. A walk along the coastal path takes you through hundreds of years of history, past the ruined Châteliers Abbey and crumbling WWII bunkers. Hire a bike and a 110km network of cycle trails connects you to the other Ré villages and sites, including the UNESCO-protected Vauban walls at St Martin, the 17th Fort La Prée and the salt marshes that are such a key part of Ile de Ré culture.

Our choice of French properties is diverse, ranging from simple charm to genuine luxury and style. Much of our portfolio is privately owned, and price alone is therefore not a universal guide. We contract all our accommodation in person, and each property has its individual appeal.

To help you make the right choice based on your own priorities, we have devised a simple grading guide to be considered in conjunction with each individual property description, awarding up to a maximum of five stars for the below categories.