And back on my local road warrior mode, this time going south to old Brittany in the Loire Atlantique dept 44 of the new Pays de la Loire region. A wonderful coastal trip of my belle France just south of me with plenty of architecture, history, and beaches, Let me tell you about the beaches and a Villa Caprice of Préfailles !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The town of Préfailles is part of historic Brittany, in the traditional country of the country of Retz and in the historic Nantes country. The town is located on the southern part of the Jade coast, 25 km from Saint-Nazaire ,55 km from Nantes, and 144 km from my house. The Pays de Retz or country of Retz extends to the department of Loire-Atlantique 44. It is one of the traditional countries of Brittany of the Ancien Régime (monarchy), erected as barony then as a duchy. The country of Retz was the stronghold of the different families of the lords of Retz, most of whom were not Breton, and who have followed families since the 11C, The Pays de Retz was one of the main fiefs of Gilles Retz, companion in arms of Jeanne d’Arc and Maréchal de France. It was also the stronghold of the Gondi family, of Italian origin, located in France under the regency of Catherine de Médicis in the 16C, and for whom it became duchy. It was still one of the main places of deployment of the Vendée wars during the French revolution. The country of Retz is currently made up of 40 towns, therefore, Villeneuve-en-Retz, composed of the old town of Bourgneuf-en-Retz, itself encompassing the ancient village of Saint-Cyr-en-Retz, and the old town of Fresnay-en-Retz, Also, La Bernerie en Retz, Pornic and Préfailles,(see posts).
Prefailles has 8 km of coast. From the sandy beach to the wild cliffs, all the tastes of the holidaymakers will be satisfied. The Plage de l’Anse du Sud ,the town in partnership with the French Rescue and first aid federation (FFSS44), watches the bathers there all summer from 11h30 to 13h and then from 15h30 to 19h. You will find sanitary facilities and a raft. Located nearby at Pointe Saint-Gildas (see post), the Communal Sailing School offers many activities and rentals of kayaks, catamarans, drifts …etc, The plage de Port-Meleu beach is equipped to welcome you in the best conditions: rescue post, public health and raft. Like the other labeled beaches of Préfailles, its waters are checked regularly and monitored seven days a week all summer. Plage de la Raize and plage de Margareth beach are more intimate and family, these two beaches will welcome you with simplicity. Close to shops and campsites, they are easy to access but not monitored in season.
The Grande Plage located as close as possible to the town center, this beach offers the same services as the beach in Port-Meleu and the Anse du Sud with rescue, public health and raft as well as access to people with reduced mobility. In addition to being monitored, in July and August, the Grande plage or large beach welcomes, by reservation, a children’s beach club as well as a Beach-Volley net. This is the one we went and indeed is very nice, very convenient parking and close to town center.
It is located between the cornice du Pilier ,and the cornice of the Percée Roche. Sand in the heart of the city center located at the bottom of the avenue de la Plage Éric Tabarly With just above the Notre-Dame Chapel (see post), this beach is the largest of Préfailles. It is also a very family beach a playground all year round and a merry-go-round to amuse the children , and the picnic tables and benches to comfortably enjoy the sea view.
It is there, a little higher on your right, that the Villa Caprice saw Eric Tabarly grew, famous French navigator and child of dear country of Retz. Indeed, it is here in Préfailles that Eric learned to navigate on his father’s boat. It is and will remain an important personality for the city of Préfailles. Villa Caprice was built in 1853 . The house was then sold on August 30, 1881 , and baptized to honor a lady as Ker Amélie. The house was then bought by Louis Eugène Tabarly on November 28, 1889, from Angers. The house took the name of Villa Caprice and was enlarged in 1905, then again in 1929. The house was built in the middle of a plot along the main access to the sea. On the ground floor, this villa has a polygonal advance in the center of the previous elevation, covered with a gable overflowing in a wooden farm. The whole is covered with a flat tile roof. The openings and the angles are brick . Until 1947, the house was made up of a kitchen, dining room and four bedrooms on the ground floor, a hall, two bedrooms and a household bedroom and a attic on the first floor, a cellar, a courtyard and a garden, a laundry room and places of visiting/sittings in the courtyard, as well as a pyre and outbuildings and a well north of the garden. The property is surrounded by a stone wall surmounted by a grid.
The town of Préfailles on its beaches : https://www.prefailles.fr/les-plages/
The Pornic tourist office on the beaches of Préfailles: https://www.pornic.com/grande-plage-de-prefailles.html
The Pornic tourist office on Préfailles : https://en.pornic.com/prefailles-prefailles-la-pointe-saint-gildas-pointe-st-gildas-pornic-destination.html
There you go folks, a short but pleasant trip to the beautiful old Bretagne, that is Loire Atlantique dept 44. The sea at its best, nice monuments, and pleasant road warrior driving were all that was needed, we have been back !!!! Again, hope you enjoy the post on the beaches and a Villa Caprice of Préfailles !!! as I.
And remember happy travels, good health,and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 