The History of the « Dames de Nage »

Hello,

 

It is with much pleasure that we welcome you to our new   “ Les Dames des Nages” bed and Breakfast. What is a "Dame de nage" (literally rowlock in English) you might ask? Located on each side of a rowboat, it is that small “C”-shaped object, insignificant yet essential, used to secure the oars and allow the rower to steer and move forward.

This name, a maritime and poetic term, finds its origins in our family history and life experience, in which the sea, travels, and discovery of other cultures have shaped the story of our lives. This Bed and Breakfast represents the culmination of our life journey. The property, given its name by my wife Beatrice, herself the daughter of a long courier sailor, is like a great ship ready to set sail and take you on a journey.

 

As for me, Philippe, after several decades spent in an agri-business career that took me to the four corners of the world, I felt the need to dock the ship at the family and ancestral port, and share the anecdotes, stories and wealth of experience extracted from my travels. But I also wanted to provide moments of grace, happiness and plenitude in a privileged setting. Our house, “Les Dames de Nage” was thought through and decorated with love. Nature, a taste for beautiful things and harmony of the senses guided our choices. We wish to offer travellers from all horizons a space of beauty, relaxation and freedom that will make for an unforgettable stay, rich in memories and colours. You will thus discover the beauty, authenticity and tranquillity of the site, but also the extensive cultural and maritime wealth of this exceptional region that is the South of Brittany and more specifically the Gulf of Morbihan.

 

I see existence as a great sailing ship, one that transports us on the whim of the winds and oceans. Despite forcing us to weather gales and swells, at each port it offers us respite and the delight of discovering virgin lands. Through  “Les Dames de Nage”, we also wish to honour the great explorers and navigators of the previous millennium: James Cook, Magellan, Jacques Cartier and others who opened new sea routes. The courage and selflessness of these sailors, who threw themselves into the unknown to discover new continents, allowed men to create new exchanges and bonds. Each room in the house has been given the name of a one of these European pioneers. Thanks to them, continents and men grew closer and were enriched by contact with new cultures.

 

Ready to cast off?