The Locguénolé estate, an air of enchanted Brittany

Lydia Bacrie | 7/12/24, 11:41 AM

Freshly restored, this magnificent refuge between sea and forest will appeal to all lovers of miraculously preserved nature, with luxury and refinement to boot.

Lovers of the place all have the same words to describe it. " Locguénolé is first and foremost a landscape. "On the edge of the forest, the estate sits on one of the banks of the Blavet, a two-kilometer-long arm of the sea that flows into the ocean. With the tides breathing life into the river and the seasons coloring the trees, the landscape here is breathtakingly beautiful, and the impression of being at the end of the world is utterly bewitching.

It was in this magical setting that Breton aristocrats chose to build a granite manor house in the 18th century, then a château in the 19th, flanked by outbuildings scattered across the 25-hectare park, 20 of which is forest. Transformed into a hotel by the de la Sablière family, but unchanged for decades, the estate recently became the property of Rennes entrepreneur Gérard Jicard.Gérard Jicquel, who has embarked on an ambitious restoration, entrusting the project to architect Christophe Bachmann with a mission: to stay as close as possible to the spirit of the estate and its surroundings.

Inspired by the adventure of the Compagnie des Indes, which brought prosperity to nearby Lorient, the Dinard-based architect dressed the castle's 13 rooms and suites in panoramic wallpaper.rooms and suites with panoramic wallpapers recounting voyages from Madras to Pondicherry, and fabrics and carpets straight out of a trunk back from India. Below the château, the manor house with its thick granite walls now features 25 rooms and suites that continue the colonial spirit, this time mixed with raw materials - wood, metal, stone and glass - that sublimate the pure lines of the architecture. A stone's throw away, the former stables house the 750 m² Sothys spa on the first floor and 11 rooms on the second floor. Here, the equestrian spirit is in evidence - corridor walls decorated with old polo sticks and, in the bedrooms, raw fabric bedspreads reminiscent of the covers slipped under horses' saddles.

For families, this nod to history can also be found in three whimsical refuges. The Coucou suite, housed in the estate's former henhouse, has two bedrooms, a large bathroom and a delightful terrace overlooking the tall trees. The Belem gîte is hidden away in the heart of the forest and, even more surprisingly, the Caprice is a 1930s trawler in a dry dock, with a magnificent master suite on the bow and a bedroom in the shape of a children's cabin on the stern.

Locguénolé had to offer a restoration worthy of this chic hotel. To meet the challenge, the estate handed over the keys to its two restaurants (the gourmet L'Inattendu and the bistro La Maison Alyette) to young MOF chef Yann Maget. The trial run has proved a masterstroke, with reservations sold out and gourmets coming from Lorient, Nantes and Rennes to sample a cuisine that is as generous as it is inspired.

Three questions for Stéphanie Dubourdieu, estate manager

This estate is quite a unique place. Can you tell us about your encounter with this residence?

Stéphanie Dubourdieu: My husband is from Carnac and we've always worked in the Côtes-d'Armor region. We knew about this estate, which made us dream. When we heard it was for sale, we approached Rennes-based entrepreneur Gérard Jicquel, who is passionate about Breton culture and already owns several hotels through his Beautiful Life Hotels group. He fell in love with Locguénolé at first sight and bought the property. The estate had not been restored for decades. He decided to give it a major overhaul (more than three years in the making), while staying as close as possible to the typically Breton spirit of the place.

What was the spirit behind the restoration?

S. D.: Architect Christophe Bachmann immersed himself in the history of the buildings and the region. He spent many long hours at the Compagnie des Indes museum in Lorient, whose adventure left its mark on the town. The museum has had a major influence on the decoration of the château's rooms, with many of the pieces found there being second-hand. The manor house has preserved its Breton, mineral style, and Christophe Bachmann drew inspiration from the equestrian world for the stables. Finally, nature is omnipresent here, with wide openings, terraces and a beautiful glass roof in the dining room, which opens onto the inlet.

What kind of public do you cater for?

S. D.: We reopened the estate in December and already have a loyal clientele. Local people come for a weekend from Vannes, Lorient, Rennes or Nantes and, for the summer, guests from all over France, as well as from England, Germany and the Netherlands. Some, who came at Easter, have booked again for the summer. All in love with the beauty of the place and its family spirit, with an authentic and sincere history.

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