Beautiful Cozy Stone House Near the Sea
- Minimum stay:N/A
- Internet:Yes
- Pets allowed:Yes
- Wheel chair accessible:No
'Kan ar Voualc'h' in Ste-Hélène-sur-Mer is Breton for 'blackbird's song'. It also means waking to only birds and wind; a short stroll up the road to have a beer at the café in the sun; a book by the fire while the others watch a film upstairs; oysters at a waterside table; kayaking the mysterious Ria d'Etel; laying your hand on a 6th century stone altar open to the skies; swimming the Atlantic after café-crèmes and the papers.
Kan ar Voualc'h is a former stone farm building converted by architects into a spacious, luminous home. You can step out of the kitchen right onto the back terrace for breakfast with a view of the flowers and the greenery, or settle on the front terrace with a view of the garden. A three minute stroll up the road brings you to the village tennis courts, and a few more minutes brings you to the authentic little village itself, with its café, the village restaurant/bar/crêperie, and a little shop to pick up the paper and bread for your breakfast.
A five-minute drive takes you to the shores of the Ria d'Etel, the inland saltwater river, and fifteen takes you to the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. Nearby Plouhinec offers even more restaurants, bars, a top-notch pastry shop, baker's, a supermarket and all other commodities.
Although Ste Hélène is in a protected area owing to its nature reserve and its oyster farms, the surrounding area is celebrated for all it offers holidaymakers, and is a highly sought-after tourist destination.
Keywords: cottage, gîte
Property Type
- House
Accommodation Type
- Vacation Rental
Suitability
- Non Smoking Only
Bedrooms
- 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6, Beds for 4-6
- Bedroom 1
- Bedroom 2
- Convertible bed(s)
- Double Beds (1), Twin or Single Beds (2), Sleep Sofa or Futons (1)
Bathrooms
- 1.5 Bathrooms
- Bathroom 1
Kitchen & Dining
- Cooking Utensils
- Microwave
- Dishwasher
- Kitchen
- Refrigerator
Amenities
- Washing Machine
- Parking Off Street
- Wood Fireplace
Other Amenities
Entertainment
- DVD Player
Communications
- Broadband Access
- Wireless Internet
Outdoor Features
- Outdoor Grill
- Deck / Patio
Activities
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Snorkeling/Diving
- Hiking
- Mountain Biking
- Parasailing
- Cycling
- Tennis
- Water Skiing
- Golf
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Hunting
- Wind-Surfing
- Swimming
- Sailing
- Shopping
- Horseback Riding
- Sight Seeing
- Wildlife Viewing
- Shelling
- Boating
- Zoo
- Museums
- Restaurants
- Cinemas
- Surfing
- Fishing
Reviews
Write a review-
A relaxing time.
A relaxing time.
- Guest The Family Mack
- Date of stay 08/18/12
- Review Submitted 09/03/12
Our family (including two teenage girls) has just spent a week in Sainte Helene sur Mer where we not only appreciated and enjoyed the wonderful country side and spectacular nearby beaches but also the warm and friendly hospitality of owner; so much so that we will defiantly be returning sometime in the not too distant future. The house was very comfortable and equipped to a very high standard and included all the necessary creature comforts required of a family home. There is clearly much to do in the area which caters for most interests and tastes. Local seafood delicacies consumed against memorable backdrops made lasting memories for us all. A fantastic base from which to explore the area of Morbihan.Recommended for: Sightseeing, girls getaway, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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A real home from home
A real home from home
- Guest Mel
- Date of stay 10/01/11
- Review Submitted 03/16/12
We stayed in this wonderful house for a couple of months while between homes, and during the winter months. It is a warm and cosy house, that is comfortable, well fitted out and spacious. Each member of the family had their own little cosy corner and we came together in the huge kitchen for meals. We loved the village, the surroundings and the whole experience. We lit fires and read books. We walkedd to the village for fresh bread and croissants. We fed the birds on the back terrace and watched the squirrels scamper in the trees. I hung out washing on mild windy days and picked bay leaves, thyme and rosemary from the garden. I'm only sorry we weren't there long enough to see in the spring...! Believe me, you will fall in love with this house.Recommended for: Sightseeing, families with young children, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Your lovely vacation home
Your lovely vacation home
- Guest Fan
- Date of stay 06/12/11
- Review Submitted 03/16/12
Just wanted to let you know what a great time we had at your lovely vacation home in Brittany. Our friends from Cornwall were there also and they also had a wonderful time. You've done a very nice job on the decorating and we all like the central and very quiet location and charming surrounding villages. The crêpe place in Plouhinec was especially good. We literally ate our way through many meals of moules, huîtres, langoustines and crêpes plus all the fabulous desserts. I'm sorry your local seafood favorite was not open until Thursday, when we were gone. We did however find a great place to buy fresh seasfood on the water in St Cado. The weather was cool but hardly any rain. I found a very nice walking trail past the farm field that went into the forest and down by the bay. I'm certain you know which one I mean. We toured most all the local area and especially liked Auray and the old port of St Goustan. We found a chocolatier there by the river which was out of this world - went there twice! Also Quiberon and the coast toward the northwest. Thanks again for a fun time and hope to do it again soon.Recommended for: Sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2
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Winter visit
Winter visit
- Guest Yankee
- Date of stay 12/12/10
- Review Submitted 02/03/11
I enjoyed my winter visit. Admittedly, Brittany may not be quite as delightful as in summer, but I very much enjoyed the tranquil, slow pace and calmness that pervaded all. The house is very well equipped and the fireplace was a treat. And the local inn makes a very nice rum grog (or 2 or 3).Recommended for: Sightseeing, romantic getaway, age 55+.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2
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Great house
Great house
- Guest Mel
- Date of stay 08/14/10
- Review Submitted 09/13/10
I just wanted to send a delayed note to say how much we enjoyed staying in your house... We found the house very comfortable and I must say the best equipped kitchen in a holiday home... The walk into the village was perfect especially with the boys early in the morning for fresh bread and croissants…We are interested in renting it again next summer so will be in touch closer to the dates.Recommended for: Sightseeing, girls getaway, families with young children, romantic getaway.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2
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Great for a romantic idyll
Great for a romantic idyll
- Guest Brittany traveller
- Date of stay 04/01/10
- Review Submitted 06/10/10
A very nice house that was just right for a romantic get away with lovely walks and restaurants nearby - from an excellent one with tablecloths and candles to outdoor tables next to the oyster farm where the fresh oysters and chilled white wine were memorable.Recommended for: Sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4
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Charming house
Charming house
- Guest Some guy from Paris
- Date of stay 05/21/10
- Review Submitted 05/27/10
Stayed there with our kids. Enjoyed it very much. Cute little town. Close to oyster restaurants and the beaches. House was very comfortable.Recommended for: Families with young children.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2
Rates
Low Season (October - May) 420 euros wk/65 euros night Mid Season (June and Sept) 595 euros wk/95 euros night High Season (July and Aug) 695 euros wk (minimum 7 days)
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Before paying contact the owner to confirm payment details.
Call the owner directly to confirm reservation details and pay with an approved method (credit card, check, or bank transfer), to protect your payment up to $1,000.
Location
Owner info
Year Purchased: 2010
About the owner: An American of Welsh-English extraction, translator and artist, my Celtic blood drew me to Brittany, although I lived in Paris for almost thirty years.
Why the Owner Chose Morbihan:
I fell in love with the Ria d'Etel area some years ago when I saw the sun go down over the waters of this salty estuary before it spills into the sea. Ste Hélène has preserved still much of its ancient mystery, because the tiny municipality has decided it should be that way. Development is not allowed, and it means I can find uncluttered landscapes for my canvases and unspoiled Nature for my heart and mind. Still, the area offers my adolescents things like paintball or an 'accrobranche' park to whizz through the treetops, while their parents can have a quiet elegant lunch of buttery scallop crepes in a nearby chateau. Sailing is important to us and this is the area for it. There is always something to do, ranging from horseriding lessons to a visit of the citadel at St Louis. One of my best memories is of a 14th of July watching the fireworks and my then-small children playing on the beach; we were sitting at an outside table with a bowl of steamed mussels and chips, cold white wine at hand. Heaven!
The Unique Benefits at this House:
When the real estate agent first brought me to Kan ar Voualc'h I caught sight of it and my knees went weak, because I knew it was the house I had dreamed of having for years. I love early things, and its old stones and original beams feel like home. It is above all a peaceful place to stay. The space is large and airy, and owing to the two sitting rooms, the kids can be upstairs doing their thing while the adults can enjoy their own conversation. This and the front and back terraces mean that there are plenty of corners for people to tuck themselves into for a bit of quiet time on their own if they want. With the queen-size bed downstairs and the two single beds upstairs it's just perfect for a couple or a family of four. The sofabed opens in the upstairs sitting room for an extra couple of places if someone else comes along or for little ones. I also love the huge kitchen, where we generally have our meals, after which we go out the kitchen door to have coffee on the back terrace to hear the birds.
Contact us
- Primary: +33 (0)9 50 40 61 25 (France)
- Secondary: +33 (0)6 86 14 59 64 (France)
Links to more information:
Photos
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Front façade of Kan ar Voualc'h
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View of downstairs sitting room
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Kitchen
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Upstairs sitting room
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Master bedroom
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Back terrace
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Upstairs bedroom
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This listing was first published here in 2010.
Date last modified - Saturday, March 16, 2013