My Breton roots run deep in the Gulf of Morbihan, where my family has been holidaying for two centuries. I grew up surrounded by the souvenirs of my great-grandparents right through to my father. So when the time came for us to return to our roots, Vannes was the natural choice. We wanted to avoid having to use our car, while still being able to enjoy the daily pleasures of living in a town by the sea, so we found this house, which is equidistant from the medieval centre and the natural areas bordering the gulf, meaning we could live without seeing a car, simply by skirting the harbour along the old towpath. Finally, the very quiet area and the garden overlooking the harbour with its sailboats give us a feeling of escape, even though we are in the heart of Vannes.
A modern counterpart to the shipowners' villas opposite it on the right bank, Villa M is the fruit of the imagination of a daring shipbuilder. He wanted it to be like the prow of a boat reaching out towards the water, both protected from view and wide open to his garden and the canal. When we took over the house, we enhanced its garden by creating a number of intimate spaces and opening up the view to be able to see the boats on the canal.
The house was designed in the 1970s and built in the 1980s. Keen not to let the sea out of his sight, the house's owner chose the last site in the harbour to ensure that he wouldn't ever be deprived of his view. He chose this plot of land above all because it overlooks the shipyard, which is now dedicated to wintering boats, so that he could stay close to the sailing boats that he loved so much.
Thanks to its exceptional location, the house is a wonderful base where you can relax in the shade of its trees, watching the boats bob around, or unwind in the spa. The best thing of all is that you can forget about your car. If you take the towpath at the foot of the house, Vannes’ historic centre is just 800 metres away, with its ramparts, charming medieval streets, renowned restaurants and pretty market. Also along this footpath, the boat-bus landing stage means you can discover a new island every day, with their heavenly beaches and coves. For example the Ile d'Arz, Ile-aux-Moines, Ilur as well as Houat, Hœdic and Belle-Île. Finally, a bike ride or a sunrise jog in the protected natural areas at the end of the trail are the perfect way to start or end a day, among old farms and cows, pine forests and picturesque anchorage sites.
As well as its famous market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the medieval town is packed with good restaurants. Our favourite is 'La Tête en l'air', whose blind menu earned it a Michelin star this year. The aperitif is a sacred moment in Brittany, and the "Café de la Poissonnerie" opposite the fish market offers an authentic setting and a friendly atmosphere, especially on Saturday lunchtimes. "Le Corlazo", the most beautiful terrace at the tip of the Pointe de Conleau, which is accessible from the house by the coastal path, is ideal for an evening drink overlooking the trees and boats. Another terrace is that of the Jegat oyster farms in Arradon, where the stuffed oysters and clams take on a very special flavour under the setting sun by the edge of the water.Take Anne Caseneuve's "maxi catamarans" to discover the Gulf's islands, with excursions lasting a few hours or a whole day. The magnificently restored Château de Suscinio, overlooking one of the region's most beautiful beaches, offers a glimpse into the way of life of the Duchy of Brittany.
The living room with fireplace opens onto the garden, with large bay windows. On one side is the dining room, on the other an office-library. At family time, the latter can easily be transformed into a second dining room. The semi-dinette kitchen opens directly onto the dining room. The ground-floor double bedroom has its own bathroom with bathtub, and looks out onto the garden. Upstairs, four bedrooms, two with double beds, two with two single beds, share a bathroom, and a shower room. The basement offers a games room with table soccer or dinette for the kids, and the possibility of two extra beds. The adjoining laundry room houses a washer-dryer and washbasin. In the garden there's a red cedar jacuzzi for six, and an outdoor shower for rinsing off on the way back from the beach. The courtyard provides ample parking for three cars, and a charging station for electric vehicles is also available. A nearby dead-end can accommodate additional vehicles.
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