Christian Holiday House, Cancale — On the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel
Port Mer is a genuine Christian holiday house, Cancale, break: a modern, well-equipped home in a quiet cul-de-sac of twelve houses, five minutes’ walk from a family-friendly beach with its own sailing school. Sleeping six across three bedrooms, with its own garage, garden and off-street parking, it’s a comfortable base for exploring the wider Christian holidays in France, on the western edge of the Bay of Mont St Michel where Brittany meets Normandy. Cancale itself, with its restaurants, shops, boulangeries and weekly market, is just a five-minute drive, and a large supermarket is equally close.
Cancale has been known as Brittany’s oyster capital since Roman times, when small fishing communities first began working the wild beds of the bay. The town’s reputation grew further under King Louis XIV, who had Cancale oysters delivered daily to Versailles and reportedly ate up to six dozen before a meal; today the oyster beds cover hundreds of hectares and the industry has been recognised by UNESCO for its Intangible Cultural Heritage. A visit to the small oyster market by the lighthouse, where you can eat them freshly shucked on the harbour wall, is one of the simplest pleasures the area offers.
Across the bay, and visible on a clear day from the Cancale coastline, stands Mont Saint-Michel, one of Christendom’s oldest pilgrimage sites, ranked alongside Rome, Santiago de Compostela and Jerusalem. Tradition holds that the Archangel Michael appeared to Bishop Aubert of Avranches in a dream in 708, asking him to build a sanctuary on the rock; Benedictine monks settled there in 966, and pilgrims, including several kings of France and England, have been drawn to it ever since to seek the archangel’s protection. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it remains one of the most striking sights in France, abbey and village rising directly out of the tide, and well within reach for a day out from Port Mer.
St Malo, half an hour along the coast, has its own remarkable story as a walled corsair city, its granite ramparts and tall townhouses built on privateering fortunes from captains such as Robert Surcouf and René Duguay-Trouin. It was also the birthplace of Jacques Cartier, the explorer who claimed Canada for France in 1534 and was blessed at the city’s cathedral before setting sail; he’s buried there still, and a museum nearby tells his story. Dinan and Dinard, both easily reached, offer their own medieval charm and elegant Belle Époque villas respectively, and both make an easy day trip.
Port Mer beach itself is a five-minute walk from the house, with cafés and restaurants of its own, and the wider Emerald Coast offers award-winning sandy beaches, coastal walks, horse riding, go-karting, a zoo, an aquarium and fishing all nearby, alongside seasonal open-air concerts and craft and food markets through the summer months. There’s no cleaning service here, so guests are asked to leave the house as they found it before departure, and no pets are accepted, but for a quiet, well-placed family base on France’s Christian and culinary heritage, it’s genuinely hard to beat.
Perfect for:
- Families wanting a beach five minutes’ walk away with its own sailing school
- Seafood lovers, with Cancale’s oyster market and restaurants close by
- Pilgrimage and history interest, with Mont Saint-Michel visible across the bay
- Those exploring St Malo, Dinan and Dinard from a quiet, central base
- Longer stays taking in both Brittany and neighbouring Normandy
- Groups of up to six, across a double room and two twin rooms
- Anyone wanting a self-catering base with garage parking and a private garden
- Longer stays, since the house is available for booking all year round
Location
Port Mer, Cancale, Brittany, France
How to get here: Ferry to St Malo, Ferry to Caen, Ferry to Calais, Eurotunnel Folkstone to Calais.
Nearest Town: Cancale, St Malo, Dinan, Dinard.
Facilities
A modern and well equipped home. Situated in a cul-de-sac of 12 houses occupied by French speaking owners, the homes are used as either holiday or permanent dwellings. Our house has its own garage and garden and is just a 5 minutes’ walk from the local beach. Car parking on site.
The house sleeps 6 people in three bedrooms; one with a double bed and two with twin single beds. Please note the third bedroom is accessed via a door in the second bedroom.
All come with duvets and pillows, however you will need to bring your own bed linen and towels. The house has a bathroom that includes a shower and bath with separate toilet. Additional downstairs toilet.
Electric cooker, microwave, fridge, dishwasher and washing machine. TV for DVD use only. A selection of board games, books, puzzles and DVDs. Child-friendly house, stair gate to fit if needed.
Garden and patio suitable for summer dining.
Open plan living,/dining room with traditional Breton log.
There is no cleaning service, guests are required to clean the house before departure.
Additional Photos
Click to enlarge
Costs
£700 a week.
Energy Provision: Costs inclusive of electricity.
Availability
Available all year round.
Arrival and Departure times: By negotiation.
Booking Arrangements: By negotiation
Pets: No pets.
Contact the Owner
If you are interested in making a booking, or you would like further information, please get in touch using the following details:
Name: Reverend Canon Rachael Knapp
Phone Number: 07711 920 664
Email Address: rachael.knapp@hotmail.com