Ile d'Arz Beach House

A Photographer's Beach House on a Car-Free Island in Brittany

This three-bedroom beach house on Brittany’s car-free Ile d’Arz was designed by its host, an interior and architectural photographer with a background in industrial design, whose photography has appeared in Elle Decoration, Vogue Living Australia and AD.

Ideal for five guests, the home has one single and two double bedrooms, and an easygoing, earthy surf shack vibe. An quick stroll from the beach, the house is a great spot to slow down and take to the water. There’s a wood stove in the simple kitchen/dining area, a pastoral outdoor picnic table on the lawn and sleek contemporary features in the bathroom.

Around

One of 42 islands in Brittany’s Gulf of Morbihan, Ile d’Arz is best known for its car-free living. The island is reached from the Pointe de Conleau in about 20 minutes or the city of Vannes in about 30. A relatively flat island, Arz known for its old manor houses and its stony village, as well as a coastal path that offers superb views of the Gulf of Morbihan all along its 17 kilometers. A tide mill dating from the 16th century stands at Pointe du Berno, and is in working order and visitable. Nicknamed The Captains’ Island for its history as a place that sent nearly every male resident to the navy, the remote region's history is detailed at the local Sailor and Captains’ Museum in the village.

Home to only a couple of hundred full-time residents today, the island is possibly populated with more flocks of migratory birds and pheasants than people. Though it’s close to the mainland, the four-kilometer-by-three-kilometer island feels a world apart. Given its small size, you’re never far from the water or the coastal trail. Cycling on the island is done on marked alternate routes off of the coastal trail (which in some places is too narrow to share with pedestrians). There's also a 10-kilometer biking trail that runs inland. Beachgoers in search of recreation choose Plage de Brouel and Plage de Blihervé. The island is home to a sailing school, and there’s a handful of cafes and restaurants, and a single supermarket in the village, plus an outdoor summertime market. With its mild climate and sheltered beaches, Arz has earned a place on the “Most Beautiful Bays in the World” list. Local gardens are filled with hydrangeas and camellias, and the pretty isle is popular spot for sailors to anchor, competing in annual summer regattas or simply sailing to the island for a scenic stopover from mainland Brittany.

Location

Île d'Arz, Brittany, France. Nearest airports: Nantes (1 hour from Vannes, on the mainland), Rennes (also about an hour from Vannes, which is reachable in 30 minutes by ferry).

Best time to visit

April through September