About Us
Éco-Domaine La Fontaine,
Hotel, Restaurant, Spa, Farm, and Rejuvenating Seminars by the Ocean
AtÉco-Domaine La Fontaine,a century-old farm located 100 meters from the beach, the sea and the land come together in a unique harmony: a village that serves as a source of inspiration, where people are cultivating ways of life that are more self-sufficient, more resilient, and deeply connected to the natural world.
Here, small joys take root, grow, and blossom. We celebrate nature, we care for it, and we create the conditions for it to regenerate. That is the very essence of our approach to regenerative tourism in Pornic.
The Spirit of the Place
Let the sea spray caress your face, listen to the fire crackling in the fireplace, escape to the spa, savor the freshness of our vegetables picked that very morning, feel the energy of the earth beneath your feet, and drift off to sleep as the sun dips into the ocean.
Here, every experience reconnects you with what truly matters.
A village where people live, learn, and pass on traditions
Éco-Domaine La Fontaine more than just a place:
is a land of experiences, creativity, joy, and cooperation, where we share our expertise, pass on our experience, and together sow the seeds of a world where humans and nature live in greater harmony.
Ready to board?
Éco-Domaine La Fontaine welcomesÉco-Domaine La Fontaine .
A source of simple joys, a place of experiences and sharing—we move forward with a simple yet essential goal: to reconcile humanity with the planet.
The History of the Place
In the very beginning, it was nothing but forest. The lush vegetation then welcomed a group of visionary seminarians who set out to build a farm there and experiment with a self-sufficient way of life.
Later, this place provided a haven for war wounded seeking a peaceful retreat during their convalescence.
When the brothers left, the farm, crops, and animals remained, transforming the site into a vacation and recreation center for local children.
Since then, the estate has evolved but has not lost its original essence.
The forest is returning, and the animals and crops are still there.
The doors of the Eco-Estate will always be open to share what nature offers us and teaches us here.
The Taste of Happiness
Take a bite out of a tomato fresh from the ground, savor crêpes made with eggs just gathered from our chicken coop, share a terrine straight from the dish, and discover the taste of pea blossoms… Here, the garden is the beating heart of the estate, the kitchen, and our team.
We’re committed to sharing with you, right on your plates, the little joys it brings us. Throughout the four seasons, our kitchen team creates dishes that highlight the fruits of the labor of the permaculture farmers in our vegetable garden. And if the mood strikes you, don’t hesitate to choose the “shareable” option for our dishes.
We’ll gather you around a terrine, a pot, or a platter… to share with everyone at your table.
The Vineyards with a View of the Sea
The vines surrounding the estate were chosen for their ability to adapt to this terroir and to climate change. They are the only vines in the department grown on stakes. You can see aromatic herbs growing at the base of our vines; this is no oversight—they are there to create resilient vineyard landscapes inspired by the principles of permaculture.
The Permaculture Vegetable Garden
A permaculture garden? Permaculture is a farming method based on the synergies between crops. In our vegetable gardens, you’ll see beans growing at the base of corn plants so the corn can serve as a support for them, all planted near zucchini to provide shade in the height of summer…That’s right—all of this is carefully planned to create the best environment for all our fruits and vegetables, which are harvested by hand without any chemicals, not even organic ones. We grow various types of fruits and vegetables depending on the season. We also produce eggs and herbal teas made in our dryer.
All garden produce is available for purchase directly at the grocery store every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The "Petits Bonheurs" Educational Farm
Charlie Chaplin, our guinea pig; Jupiter and Gamin, our horses; Rachel, our star pig; and our rabbits, sheep, geese, donkeys, and chickens… are all part of the La Fontaine team. The walk through the animal enclosures on our lovely farm is open to the public as part of our educational program. Feel free to take a stroll. The animals on our farm contribute to the site’s circular economy, as they are fed with scraps from the kitchen and vegetable garden.
During school breaks, there are many activities for children to discover the animals on our farm in Pornic.
New Walls,
Ancestral Land
It’s in our DNA to share what we experience here with the rest of the world. By expanding the boundaries of our charming residence since 2022, we’re writing a new chapter in the history of this place by increasing its capacity with the opening of a high-end, eco-designed hotel… as well as a spa.
And in a space designed for sensory exploration, our Spa offers guests the opportunity to complete their experience of total disconnection and inner and outer fulfillment. Continue this exotic journey in the hands of our wellness experts for an exceptional and unique sensory experience. This 300 m² haven of paradise, nestled between land and sea, blends seamlessly into a natural and soothing atmosphere… Escape is guaranteed through multisensory experiences.
From the initial plans and the choice of materials to energy consumption, we have envisioned and designed these buildings to have the lowest possible carbon footprint.
The Official Team of Little Joys
BehindÉco-Domaine La Fontaine a team of hidden gems with a wide range of talents that we want to share and pass on through workshops open to everyone. Sit in the estate’s vineyards overlooking the sea with Arnaud, our gardener and winemaker, and discover the benefits of trellis cultivation. Take your first steps in permaculture alongside Mathieu, with your hands in the soil and the sea spray caressing your face. Bite into a sweet pea freshly harvested from the vegetable garden by Jolan, our market gardener…
Your journey at the Éco-Domaine will also be one of sharing knowledge with the team that makes this place come alive.
Check out all the adult workshops on permaculture, yoga, viticulture, and more—hosted by the team at La Fontaine.
Here we are experimenting with the principles of regenerative economics:
Producing locally: food, water, energy… Much of the restaurant’s vegetables come from our garden, as do our eggs and wine. We also generate some of our own energy.
Working in a circular economy: no waste—or waste is a resource. Producing locally helps, for example, to avoid packaging that’s often associated with transportation. In your rooms, water will be available only in reusable carafes, and our coffee capsules are compostable…
Relying on collaboration. The project is developed and led jointly by the team members here, and sometimes also with people from the Pays de Retz region.
Returning to a form of spirituality:connecting with oneself and with nature
Embracing functionality: rental, sharing, and management of shared spaces.
From our ancestral gardens to our future projects, bringing little moments of joy to everyone is at the heart of everything we do.
Don’t forget to take some home with you…