An elegant coastal hotel with an indoor swimming pool, a guesthouse and
a 1,000m² tree-dotted garden in France’s Finistère department in Brittany
a 1,000m² tree-dotted garden in France’s Finistère department in Brittany
Douarnenez,
FINISTERE
brittany
29100
FR
Location
The property lies in the fishing village of Tréboul in Brittany, on the south side of Douarnenez bay, opposite the legendary Tristan Island. Upon its rocky slopes that shelter its port and two beaches of fine sand, this village has inspired countless artists, from Auguste Renoir to Max Jacob. In enchanting coves, along rural lanes and through traditions passed down, the true soul of Brittnay is felt strongly here in this beautiful corner of France. The village is 20 minutes from the city of Quimper and its high-speed train station, from where you can get to Paris by rail in around three and a half hours.
Description
The name of this hotel – “Ty Mad” – means “good house” in Breton. The edifice has been called “Ty Mad” ever since it was built in 1924. It has hosted travelling guests ever since then. It stands in a calm backdrop – a maze of narrow streets – near a 15th-century calvary and a 13th-century chapel. Its location is both remarkable and discreet. With its 15 bedrooms, this grand building offers a sweeping view of an unspoilt coastline from its commanding position. It stands less than 100 metres from a beach. It has four floors. Given its height, the edifice looks down at the houses that surround it, yet without blotting them out. Its elevations are made of rubble stone with pointing. They are plain and bear no distinctive ornamentation, apart from sculpted wooden ledges and wrought-iron guardrails fitted in front of the tall, evenly spaced windows. The slate roof was redesigned to integrate tall, broad dormers on the north and south roof slopes. A section with a flat zinc roof adjoins the northern elevation. It has two levels and is widely glazed along three sides of its upper half, like a conservatory. Its lower half, which leads out to the garden, houses an indoor swimming pool. This swimming pool room leads straight out to the garden through picture windows. The utility rooms have two levels and stretch to the western edge of the plot, sheltered behind stone walls.
The tall house
The base level
You reach the lower level straight from the garden and the central corridor in the reception. It is mostly made up of well-being spaces. The stairs lead to a vast relaxation space that connects to rooms designed for guests to unwind in: a steam room, a sauna, a massage room and a swimming pool that is 5 metres long and 2.5 metres wide. There are also storerooms and technical installations rooms down on this lower level.
The first floor
The main way into the first floor is from the car park on the east side. Here, a double flight of front steps faces the bay. A second door also leads into the first floor on the west side at the garden level. There are mainly reception rooms on this level. Beyond the main entrance door, a broad hallway connects to a lounge and reception desk on one side. On the other side, there are rooms for catering and dining. A first room in the main section lies on the north side, extending beyond the main section to a room with a panoramic view. A kitchen, a pantry, a scullery, storerooms and a cold room lie on the west side. The hallway continues westwards and leads to two separate staircases. One of them takes you down to the lower level. The other one leads up to the first level of bedrooms. Further along, the corridor connects to a lavatory and ends at the upper level of the garden. The layout and size of the rooms on this level have not been changed much since the hotel was built.
The second floor
A central corridor connects to four bedrooms, which all have a shower room with a lavatory, as well as a linen room.
The third floor
A central corridor connects to five bedrooms, which all have a shower room with a lavatory, as well as a linen room.
The fourth floor
A central corridor connects to five bedrooms, which all have a shower room with a lavatory, as well as a linen room.
The guesthouse
A stone guesthouse with a ground floor and a converted loft closes the plot on its south-east side. This modest 19th-century dwelling was enlarged at the end of the 20th century. Yet its architectural traits are typical of the village. Indeed, all the way along the sloping public roads, the rendered white facades are punctuated with windows and doors in granite surrounds and colourful frames and the slate roofs are dotted with dormers of different shapes. All this is in line with the local region’s character. You enter the guesthouse from its west side, beyond a private terrace in the south garden. The design of the ground floor is contemporary with an open space for everyday life. The upstairs is more traditional in layout. It has three bedrooms and two shower rooms. The whole dwelling is in excellent condition. It has a total floor area of around 120m². The ceilings are around 2.40m high.
The outbuildings
A building that is half-underground contains a garage and storerooms. It stands on the plot’s eastern edge. The building adjoins a stone wall opposite a chapel. From the public road, there is a pedestrian door and car entrance. A few steps lead here from the garden, which takes you to the green roof too. There is a total floor area of around 70m². On the plot’s western edge, a single-storey building with a private terrace adjoins the neighbouring property. You enter this building from the garden, via a path that runs along the south elevation of the tall house. The building has a 15m² floor area. It houses a bedroom with a shower room and a separate lavatory.
The garden
This oasis of greenery is remarkably calm, even though it is in the village centre and is less than 100 metres from the beach. It is a haven of discretion and creativity. With its peaceful nooks for relaxation, this terraced garden forms a harmonious whole. It is a beautiful palette of green tones.
Our opinion
This discreet, elegant hotel with a walled garden, perched upon a coastal hill, offers a sweeping view of a bay that has inspired countless legends and paintings. It is nestled in the Brittany of artists. The enchanting natural light here and the unique atmosphere of the delightful edifice have given this hotel its excellent reputation throughout France since the early 20th century. The hotel is already well known. And it has been masterfully renovated, equipped and decorated. So you could easily continue the hotel business here without carrying out any renovation work on it. Yet like the changing tide of the endless ocean that stretches to the horizon, this property could be repurposed as a remarkable family home.
Reference 262188
| Land registry surface area | 1346 m² |
| Main building floor area | 750 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 18 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 85 m² |
| including refurbished area | 15 m² |
French Energy Performance Diagnosis
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
Share
NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
