Manoir du Guern

Rooms

There are four B&B rooms in the main Manoir, each sleeping two people (the two larger rooms can accommodate an extra bed), and two self-catering gites (cottages) across the inner courtyard, which can sleep 4-5. Each bedroom has a kingsize bed, with the option to have twins in all but St Goustan.

The B&B bedrooms all have ensuite shower bathrooms and are individually decorated. Ochre-hued Nostang features period woodwork and parquet flooring, and overlooks the orchard. Étel has antique furniture, a stone fireplace and tiled flooring as well as a work area. St Barbe overlooks the moat, while the south-facing St Goustan is bathed in light and has a view over the interior courtyard. All rooms have herbal teas supplied - a nice touch.

The two self-catering gites are pretty identical in layout and positioning, right by the courtyard entrance, beside the bridge over the moat. Each is a two-storey cottage with a fully-equipped kitchen, dining area and living room on the ground floor, and two bedrooms upstairs, each with ensuite bathrooms with showers. Gîte Le Bono features hemp lime walls and terracotta floor tiles, and it has direct access to the swimming pool and sauna. Gîte L'Erdeven is lighter due to its large windows and has a private terrace overlooking the moat.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Central heating
• Hairdryer
• Pool towels
• Satellite TV
• Toiletries
• WiFi

Eating

For those in the B&B rooms, Frederique prepares breakfast every morning. The menu changes according to the season, but you can expect classic French – coffee, pastries, bread, meats etc – plus eggs to order. Dinner can also be prepared by prior arrangement (you'll need to book 3 days ahead) – dishes include the house planche of local hams and cheeses and salads. There can be barbecues arranged in season on the long, west-facing terrace too.

If staying in the gites, you have a full kitchen with fridge-freezer, oven, hob, coffee maker and dishwasher to play with plus a barbecue. You'll find homemade apple juice and espresso tablets on arrival, and can opt into breakfasts in the Manoir if you want. It's just a two-minute drive to the village of Pluvigner which has a bakery, bar and supermarket. Local markets include Auray on Mondays, Vannes on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and Carnac on Wednesdays and Sundays.

For those wanting to sample the region's culinary delights, there are plenty of good quality eateries within easy reach. The menus tend towards classic French although Lebanese and Mediterranean also feature. Regional specialities include scallops (coquilles Saint Jacques) in a buttery cream sauce, sardines, pork, mussels (moules marinières) and, of course, the ever-present crepes. You can have them with lemon and sugar, but be sure to try the Breton galette, which is a main course of crepe with savoury filling – ham, cheese and egg; or the hotdog-style galette saucisse (sausage wrapped in galette). Kouign Amann is another regional treat – a chewy buttery cake made from croissant dough. And the Bretons are proud of their caramels – made with high grade salt from the salt flats at Guérande.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Dinner by arrangement
• Kids' meals

Activities

• The many on-site activities include pétanque, boules, 6 hectares of park to explore, a library, swimming – even fishing in the manor’s very own moat!
  
• Auray, just a few kilometres away, is a beautiful town with a picturesque port and a huge Monday market. It's a great place to have dinner overlooking the water
  
• Arty and buzzy Vannes (around 18km away) has pedestrianised cobbled streets lined with sculptures and murals and is packed with studios, galleries, craft beer bars, surf ‘n turf eateries and upmarket boutiques
  
• If the weather holds, head to Erdeven, a string of unspoiled beaches that stretch for miles beside the Atlantic. Diving, sailing, surfing and kite-surfing are widely available (best at St Barbe and Quiberon), but there are also nature trails peppered with megaliths and stunning views
  
• Beautiful Regional Natural Park Gulf of Morbihan is renowned for its exceptional biodiversity in habitats that include protected wild sand dunes, salt meadows, wetlands and pine forests
  
• The area around the Gulf features an incredible range of megalithic monuments - passage dolmens, pyramids with underground chambers, stone circles, and giant menhirs (some ruins date to at least 3,300 BC)
  
• History buffs will love the medieval architecture of the area, especially the imposing St Anne D’Auray, the basilica of the patron saint of Brittany

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boules
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Historical sites
• Kitesurfing
• Shopping / markets
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Table tennis

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome but do note that the moat is not cordoned off, so young kids need to be careful. There are extra beds, high chairs and babysitting services available.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

The two gites are perfect for families as they are self-contained with their own private entrances. They have a full kitchen apiece for easy self-catering, and two bedrooms upstairs which can be doubles or twins. In the manor, twin beds are available in three of the bedrooms, and both Nostang and St Barbe can take an extra bed.

Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 1hr45m
• Shops: 5 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Manoir du Guern is situated around 3 kilometres from the town of Auray in Brittany, inland from the western Atlantic coast of France.

By Air:
The nearest airport is Nantes Atlantique, around 140 km away.

From the Airport
Car rental is available at Nantes airport, but there is also a train from the airport to Auray (usually one change). The train takes on average 3 hours.

By Road
By Eurotunnel, London to Auray is roughly a 10-hour drive. By ferry it takes approximately the same amount of time.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.