La Mouette Brittany France
Perhaps it’s the proximity to Britain, and the longitudinal position it occupies on the globe. Maybe it’s simply because the southern shores of France tend to shout so much louder when it comes to elegance, luxury and ideal destinations for beach holidays.
Either way, there’s a good chance that Brittany is low on the list when it comes to finding a luxury place to stay. Look a little closer, though, and quite how much you’ve been missing quickly becomes clear.
Short journey times from the UK aside- albeit that is becoming a huge selling point as air travel continues to plummet in standards- there’s so much about this Gallic region that deserves proper recognition from discerning travellers. Arriving on Le Croisic peninsula, the ambience and charm of the area is heart warming. Quaint architecture to die for, rambling villages ripe for exploration, and a coastline comprising dramatic cliff faces, rocky outcrops, and a seemingly unlimited supply of powerful rolling waves.
Indeed, they don’t call it the Cote Sauvage for nothing.
Our weekend accommodation fitted right in with this aesthetic naming. La Mouette defines the stand alone rural beach house. Or at least the rural beach house we’ve long dreamed of experiencing. Built from a local grey stone common in this corner of the country, with resplendent carved wood on the veranda, windows, balconies, and magnificent cream stone blocks rising to a pointed grey slate roof typical of the region.
Inside the atmosphere of good country living continues. Sitting in the lounge area as the sun went down quickly became a favourite pastime. The open fire roaring away in the grate, preparing for the cooler night, large French windows still open, offering uninterrupted views out to the turbulent sea, and the waft of the evening’s culinary preparations- stewing next door in the spacious kitchen- hitting the nose and inspiring the opening of yet another fine piquant local wine.
Of course we were also keen to take advantage of the area’s extensive and famous regional cuisine. Le Croisic is a lively village that’s well worth a visit for both meandering and dining purposes. Our favourite, though, was La Baule, a fine town to end up in after a hard day’s rambling along the coastline. One of the most historic resorts in all of France, it’s home to an abundance of excellent seafood restaurants, the vast majority of which serve up that day’s catch from the Atlantic and the choices in terms of what to wash your fruits of the sea down with are refined to the point of excellence, coming direct from the neighbouring Loire region.
A veritable coastal idyll that could rival anywhere in the world when it comes to aesthetics and air of overall relaxation. During late-spring and throughout the summer its temperate climate also means you’re almost guaranteed good weather, with warm days and plenty of sunshine. With that in mind, whilst this was our first visit, we were quite sure it would not be our last.
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