Five addresses to leisurely explore the water's edgeTake your time along the canals in Brittany

5 addresses to leisurely explore the water’s edge

Slowly but surely… On foot or bike, take your time to discover the towpaths on the Nantes-Brest, Blavet or Rance canals. These five charming stopovers will encourage you to take it easy!

©Emmanuel Berthier

1. Relaxing cocoon on the edge of the Oust

Le Jardin intérieur in Saint-Congard

This is a large house with an apricot-coloured façade and blue shutters, attached to a barn with exposed stones, in the middle of Saint-Congard village, close to the Oust and the Petite Cité de Caractère® (charming town) of Malestroit. As soon as you enter “Le Jardin intérieur” house, a feeling of well-being surrounds you. The slate blue colour and the natural maritime pine add to the warmth. Upstairs, two rooms provide 100% organic bedding, from the base to the pillowcase. On the ground floor, a large Scandinavian sofa beckons you to snuggle up close to the fireplace. Inside the barn there is a surprise! It houses a relaxing interior garden. You can also make use of your host’s shiatsu talents to complete the feeling of calm!

Le Jardin intérieur

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2. Cosy retreat, ideal for cyclists, in Rostrenen

Ecluse 150 in Rostrenen

The former Bonen lock keeper’s house in Rostrenen has been given a new lease of life. On the edge of the Nantes-Brest canal, it now proposes bedrooms and services for cyclists. The house, which has the “cycle friendly” label, can sleep nine people in three pretty rooms. The “pigeon” blue colour of the shutters largely inspired the interior design, which features antique and upcycled furniture. Wood, wicker and cosy quilts complete the cosy touch. Guests or passers-by – walkers and cyclists – can enjoy the home-made crêpes and waffles and other local treats available here, which follow the short food supply chain model. They taste even better on the terrace in the sunshine!

Ecluse 150 (FR)

3. Plant suites in La Gacilly

Eco-hôtel Spa La grée des Landes Yves Rocher

The suites are called Chamomile, Cornflower and Calendula, after Yves Rocher’s favourite flowers. With schist stones, wooden weatherboarding and plant-covered roofs, the Plant Suites at the Eco-hôtel Spa La Grée des Landes blend discretely into the landscape. Nestled on the hillside, they are arranged around a lounge and a large room, with calming and discreet decoration. Settle on the terrace, under the wooden pergola, and enjoy a clear view of the lush Aff Valley. A well-being break at the heart of nature!

Eco-hôtel Spa La grée des Landes (FR)

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4. A simple lifestyle on the banks of the Rance

Les Jardins de la Matz in Plouër-sur-Rance

You can opt for a garden room or a room on the Rance. In Ploüer-sur-Rance, Les Jardins de la Matz proposes two bedrooms, one family suite and one apartment with either a view of the countryside or a view of the maritime river. Trinkets, books and other little details create the impression of being in a familiar holiday home. Above all, a return to a simple life is promoted here. During your stay, you can enjoy fruits and vegetables from the allotment, tended to by the owners, who are organic market gardeners, with permaculture methods. Your egg for breakfast comes straight from the hen! Looking for a good idea? Borrow a bike and ride into the wind along the Rance.

Les Jardins de la Matz

5. Cosy atmosphere and lovely shopping at Léhontine

Léhontine guest house in Léhon

A little gem. Just upstream of Dinan, a few steps from the Rance, the Small Town of Character of Léhon is adorable, along with Léhontine, the charming guest house run by Isabelle. What are you waiting for? Four tastefully-decorated bedrooms, including two family rooms, a generous breakfast, a living space open several times a year to artists… and on the ground floor, a boutique full of lovely items, a haven for small local creations. In addition to looking after you, Isabelle will guide you through the delights of the little medieval town and the towpath during a stroll in Dinan. Simply perfect!

Léhontine