Brittany Coastal Houses and Fishing Cottages

Many traditional Breton houses can be found along the Breton coast in both rural and urban environments. Fishing and marine trade have been a vital activity in the Brittany peninsula. Fishermen and other Bretons have been living in these coastal houses for centuries.

• Even in this wide category of dwelling, many different house styles co-exist. More prestigious homes can be found near Saint Malo, thus being called “Malouinières”. These houses also boast their own distinct architectural style. They are predominantly found in what is called “pays bigouden”, the area South of Quimper, around Guilvinec, Pont-l’Abbé and Plogastel-Saint-Germain.

• Malouinières first originated in the 17th and 18th century. They are like sorts of manor houses, pretty luxury houses originally used as second homes. They boast high chimneys and slated roofs, proofs of the local savoir-faire.
• Not exactly the same but close to that concept, are the captain’s houses. They are smaller but offer a cellar or basement. These cellars were used to store the captains’ loots when they were at sea.

A Malouiniere property in Brittany

• High chimneys made up of stones
• Slated roofs - really few thatched ones
• Granite walls, with windows of small dimensions (except Malouinieres that are more prestigious properties)

SEARCH FOR A BRITTANY PROPERTY:
Cotes d'Armor property	Finistere property
Ille et Vilaine property	Morbihan property