24 hours between land and sea at Villa Tri Men

Did the Admiral who built the Villa Tri Men at the beginning of the 20th century moor his boat below? The story does not say. But, as any good Breton, he had chosen a perfect maritime setting: all granite and slate roofs, his three-story house rises above the turquoise waters of the estuary of the Odet. While contemplating this idyllic sight, you can imagine him smelling the breeze wafting in from the Atlantic before navigating the coast up to the ocean.

Calm reigns in each of the 16 rooms of the villa: from the threshold, let yourself be carried away by the serene atmosphere, distilled by the refined and warm decoration. Walls and windows follow the maritime metaphor: Sandrine Gouin, the decorator of the Bastie architectural firm that is in charge of the renovation, drew on the secular archives of the Maison Martin Morel to reveal original patterns, including lines, curves and other faux-uni designs, which evoke waves or exotic coral reefs.

Between the sublime view of the beautiful Bénodet resort, framed in the bay window, and the large painting of artist Lucien Simon (a local artist known for his depictions of seaweed pickers), the eye does not know where to look first. Nestled in one of the azure sofas, enjoy a gourmet tea while dreaming of coming back in the wintry weather, with a fire burning in the fireplace. For now, infinite games of light on the waters of the estuary are the perfect pre-dinner show.

With ports in abundance, like that of Guilvinec (the best in France regarding traditional fishing), no wonder fish is king at the table of the "Trois Rochers"! One of the specialties of Chef Frédéric Claquin, who boasts 1 Michelin star, is hrimp ravioli—from Guilvinec, of course! Everything is subtly blended with spices and ingredients from around the world, so every bite is like a long-distance trip. For dessert, no visitor can resist in-season strawberries from Loctudy to bring the journy through Bigouden (this region of Brittany) to an end.

The place to enjoy breakfast with the first sunbeams of the day: the teak terraces of the 4,500-m² (48,437 sq. ft.) park, dotted with three cottages. From this ideal promontory, take in the procession of sails on the water and seagulls’ tireless spins in a sky over the ocean. Between the scent of maritime pines, the salty fragrance of ocean spray, and Breton delights—far cakes or kouign amann—you fill up with energy before leaving!