Wabi Surf House

Swells, Shells, and Serenity

As its name reveals, this beach house in Brittany was made to welcome surfers. Located at the water’s edge, where the swells meet long stretches of sandy beach and grassy dunes, it’s an intimate coastal temple that also lives up to its “wabi” name—a serene home of Zen-inspired beauty.

Named first for the Japanese Zen Buddhist word meaning “a quality of serene beauty,” this vacation home for rent in France was also created to be a haven for wave riders. Turns out both surfing and finding serenity are possible at this spacious waterfront estate located on the windswept and rugged Breton coast, well known for its swells and breaks.

Surfing begins literally across the street where riders gather to survey the scene before taking to the water. And serenity is found inside the home’s coastal cool volumes. Composed of a pair of traditional longères—the long rectangular farmhouses typical of Brittany—the home’s two massive structures are connected prettily by a flat-roofed central annex. The low, windowed annex houses a cozy, intimate kitchen featuring professional appliances, a central prep island, plus a built-in, window seat dining nook. In the living room, floor-to-ceiling windows on the front façade offer uninterrupted views of the Bay of Audierne, and furnishings are casual and simple, with a wood-burning stove, tiled floors and a split-level, exposed wood ceiling.

Upstairs under the eaves, divided between the home’s two structures, the bedrooms sleep eight, with three king rooms and two single or children’s rooms in total. One longère wing sleeps four in a king room and two single rooms, and the rooms share one bathroom equipped with a rain shower and separate WC. A mezzanine office in this wing offers a surprisingly vast beach view, making remote work a pleasure. The second longère wing of the home features two king bedrooms with a shared bathroom, as well as a small office space. The bedrooms are simply furnished and decorated in an easygoing beach house style.

Outdoors, flowering gardens, potted plants and a sweet lawn are set behind a low picket- and stone fence. Wooden decks hold chairs for taking in the beach view across the street, and there’s an outdoor dining table as well as a shower for rinsing off the salt and sand. Private due to its beachfront location, the Wabi Surf House is located in a small, manicured subdivision of similarly styled homes.

AROUND

Located on the coastline of Brittany, this vacation home for rent in France was created to host surfers and beachcombers, who come to the French region for its rugged seascapes and renowned waves. Directly outside the home’s front gate, a wide, sandy beachfront, rippled with dunes, stretches for miles and includes the surfing mecca of Pointe de la Torche and popular Pors Carn beach. Many surf schools operate in the area, and Penmarch is an ideal spot for beginners as well as experienced surfers. Kite and wind surfers also flock to the area, and the protected cove of Pors Carn is a great location to paddle and bodyboard.

Horseback riding, hiking the Grande Randonnee 34, or the “Custom Officers Footpath” that stretches along the sea sprayed coast for miles, mountain biking on relative flats through postcard pretty landscapes, and even scuba diving are all possible recreational pursuits along the Breton Coast. Golf courses, fine dining, and seafaring visits to lighthouses, ports, and harbors are abundant in Brittany, and the region is famed for its magical megalithic monuments, white sands, and beautifully rustic coastlines. Penmarch itself is known for its trio of historic lighthouses.

LOCATION

Penmarch, Brittany, France. Nearest airports: Quimper (30 mins); Brest (1.5 hours).

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Late spring to early fall.