Château de La Ballue

Between Saint-Malo and Mont-Saint-Michel, between Brittany and Normandy, in a charming landscape of rolling hills and dense forests, and not far from a nearly untouched coastline, stands the elegant 17th century Chateau De La Ballue, a French historical monument known for its beautiful gardens as well as for the many literary celebrities who have stayed there.

While retaining its authentic historical characteristics, the château has also been renovated and decorated with period detailing and modern fixtures.

It is an ideal base from which to explore the Emerald Coast and the many little hamlets in the countryside as well as the cities of Dinan, Dinard, Cancale, Combourg, Fougères and Saint Malo.

Marie-Françoise and her family are proud to welcome you to this comfortable and luminous space combining 4 centuries of history and the comforts of home.

Rooms & Suites
Four attractive rooms, each decorated in a different style and a suite, each with large, luxurious canopy beds with queen or king size matress and private baths.This tranquil, luxurious space is in complete harmony with nature and is an ideal spot for relaxation and leisure.

The “Suite de France”
A magnificent suite located on the second floor of the château, with a great view of the terraced gardens and the verdant landscape of the Couesnon Valley.

The suite consists of three rooms which can be used in several different ways. Period woodwork, a fireplace and rich damask wall fabrics – all combine to create a refined yet comfortable ambience.

The larger bedroom has a king-size canopy bed (or twin beds on request), The two other rooms may be used as a foyer and a living room. But they may also be used as connecting bedrooms for 2 to 3 persons, which may be ideal for couples with children or friends traveling together.

Large modern bathroom with both a bathtub and a shower and separate WCs Provided for guests’ convenience: a hair dryer, mirror, towels, bathrobes, slippers and Eco-label toiletries. (1 to 4 people)

The “Perse” room
A lavish room located on the second floor of the château, with a magnificent view of the terraced gardens and the rolling landscape of the Couesnon Valley.

This very large room has just been renovated with beautiful wall hangings, exact reproductions of 18th century Indian patterns. This pattern is called the Grand Gémois, recreated by the Maison Braquenié. This room is decorated with ornate period woodwork and has a large fireplace.

The “Victor Hugo” room
The “Victor Hugo” is the room preferred by honeymooners. This is a sumptuous room located on the second floor of the château, with period woodwork and a Louis XV-style fireplace and red damask wallpaper.

Prestigious guests
Balzac, Chateaubriand, Musset, Victor Hugo, Marquis de la Rouërie, Florence Arthaud, Michel Couchat, Jacky Coville, J.M. Queneau, Monory, Michel Lanos, Rosita S. Dewez, Tapiès, Tal-Coat, Pierre Troisgros, Simon Barto, Karine Deshayes.

Breakfast at La Ballue
Served in the 17th century buffet room of the château, this will be a memorable breakfast. There is a selection of Nina’s famous teas, organic fruit juices, local and seasonal products: fresh fruit salad, artisanal jams, farm-style yogurts, homemade delicacies, cakes and crêpes, and a delicious sweet and sour buffet brunch.

Welcome to the Gardens
A few kilometers from Mont-Saint-Michel, an enchanting universe filled with unexpected surprises. As you arrive you will discover the rolling, verdant landscape bathed in the light so characteristic of Brittany, which has inspired many painters, notably the Impressionists.

This jewel of a 17th century château, bordered by a lush, sweeping valley has since the 19th century been linked to French literature, but it has also been depicted in many paintings and drawings.

Its unique gardens have been redesigned and re-interpreted with taste and intelligence, and have once again taken on some of their original 17th century forms, a succession of sculpted shadows and light.

At the beginning there is a geometrical, terraced garden, with its sharp triangles, its shaped yews and privet hedges, then a long tunnel of black yew and diaphanous wisteria leads to the second garden, which is like an initiatory journey in which the visitor is constantly moving between light and shadow, from intrigue to serenity, from laughter to daydreaming.

In a new part of the gardens “le jardin des douves”, you will discovering a collection of ducks and geese and a rare collection of boxwoods ( more than 400 subjects). The gardens of la Ballue are a member of the prestigious network “The most famous gardens in France”.

History
“Redesigned and replanted, this garden offers the visitors a pleasing impression of harmony and poetry, the result of an exceptional research process and an elegance of execution, change, surprise, wonder, refinement, emotion, fun, freedom, distinguished futility and a slightly academic sensuality – all of which can be attributed to enthusiasts of the 17th century. There is even a discreet, refined eroticisation of nature in these gardens.”

Pool & Spa
Designed in the 80s by the utopian architect Paul Maymont, a friend of the editor Claude Arthaud, this extraordinary pool is set on an intermediate terrace under the ramparts of the Château de la Ballue, with a view over the verdant Couesnon Valley.

It echoes the baroque designs of the first gardens located on the principal terrace. This large pool has been meticulously restored to the specifications of its creator.

It is 17 meters long and 6 meters wide, and since June of 2015 offers visitors a 100 m2 space for relaxation and swimming. It is heated and has a wide wooden deck perfect for relaxing, reading or sunbathing on our comfortable deck chairs (openned according to the season)

The spa and our finnish sauna
Wellness and relaxation are available to you in our special Spa area, offering Balneotherapy in water heated to 37° (98.6° F).

A few meters from the swimming pool, this delightful space in the Gardens, consisting of an outdoor bubble bath and a pristine Finnish sauna, offers a warm, relaxing atmosphere. Feel free to go there during the day, enjoying the sunlight – in all seasons, or in the evening, while gazing up at the stars.

Discover Brittany and Normandy
The château de la Ballue is an ideal base from which to plan a visit to Mont Saint-Michel and its beautiful Bay. The Château de la Ballue, in close proximity to both Normandy and Brittany, is a perfect starting point for visitors who wish to explore the many tourist sites in the region.

Mont Saint-Michel
The site is a world renowned landmark and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. Its many living spaces, the medieval street, the cemetery and of course the great Abbey are all classified as historical monuments.

Major renovations and rebuilding are underway at the site to make the site an island again, further enhancing it and its surroundings. Each year, 3,300,000 visitors come to Mont Saint Michel – while the city itself has only forty inhabitants – to admire this masterpiece built between the ocean and the sky.

Mont Saint Michel, built on a rock, has been described as one of the Wonders of the West. It is surrounded by remarkably well-preserved 13th century fortifications. From the first moment you step inside the enclosure at Mont Saint Michel, you step back into history.

The first monastic establishment at Mont Saint Michel was built to honor the Archangel Saint Michael in 709, on a granite rock, which over the centuries has spread out over several acres.

Among the jewels of this medieval city, we recommend visiting the parochial church, a 15th century edifice dedicated to Saint Peter, the uniquely different museums, the Abbey, its refectory, its cloisters, and the first Abbey, Notre Dame Sous-Terre.

You may also contemplate the incomparable beauty of the Bay as well as the countryside and the Atlantic Ocean flowing around the Mount, later descending the path by the ramparts strewn with pretty flower gardens – or the patrol path.

Mont Saint Michel is a cultural and heritage icon as well as a spiritual refuge, housing the Brothers and Sisters of the Monastic Fraternity of Jerusalem.
Visitors will be fascinated and moved by the fervor and spirituality of the site and its inhabitants.

Saint Malo
Saint Malo, an authentic pirate city, is also a fortress city which has never been conquered. Home to the famous pirate Robert Surcouf, Saint Malo remains synonymous with adventure, sea travels, pirates and yachting.

Saint Malo also hosts some of France’s biggest maritime events such as the Route du Rhum and the Transat Québec/ Saint-Malo. The tides in the Bay of Saint Malo are some of the most impressive in all of Europe, capturing the interest of many visitors.

Lovers of the ocean will be enchanted, dreaming of sailing here and far away. Check out the beautiful beaches of Saint Malo as well, where long walks at sunset are magical and the brisk sea air a delight for all.

And then there is the islet of Grand Bé, where you may pay your respects to the great French writer Chateaubriand, a native of Saint Malo. Other not-to-be-missed sights: the national Fort, the Etoile du Roy (a pirate frigate), the well-known ramparts and the Aquarium.

Cancale
Cancale is a charming fishing port which offers delightful panoramic views on the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. For walkers there is the Path of the Douaniers at Grouin Point, the perfect spot to enjoy the beauty of the landscape and of the ocean.

Cancale is also an oyster-farming city and seafood including both flat and hollow (farmed) oysters and mussels. And at the Port of La Houle, the fishermen present all the fish from the Bay. Cancale is also home to the well-known chef and spice creator Olivier Roellinger.

Dinard
Toward the end of the 19th century, Dinard was the place to be for celebrities and society folk and was internationally known. It was considered the top French marine spa and resort, welcoming the rich and powerful as well as the royal families of Europe.

Dinard remains extremely proud of its marine resort heritage. As you walk along the coast, you will admire the villas with their characteristic architecture and wonderful views. You will enjoy walking on the beautiful beaches and along the dunes and hills on the coast.

The city of Dinard welcomes the British Film Festival each October. This is a city of art and history, offering its heritage, its lovely coastal promenades and resort to its visitors year-round. For golf-lovers, there is an eighteen hole course available at Dinard Golf, a gorgeous setting in the dunes and other land by the ocean.

Dinan
This is a medieval city of art and history, marked by the passage of Bertrand du Guesclin, the renowned Eagle of Brittany, and of the Duchess Anne de Bretagne, who married two successive French Kings – is a city whose past will enchant you.

Fortified by walled ramparts and perched high on a hill, Dinan offers its visitors a rich heritage: the 12th century Basilique Saint-Sauveur, the Convent of the Cordeliers which was founded in the 13th century, the Château and its medieval streets with its timber-framed houses.

Not to be missed is the famous Rue du Jerzual. From Dinan, we invite you to explore the picturesque port, active in all seasons, on the shores of the Rance River.

Combourg
Combourg is a characteristic small city in Brittany, considered the cradle of French romanticism, where the young Chateaubriand spent his childhood.

Favourite sites: the main square, the traditional 16th century half-timbered houses and walks around the famous lake. Of course there is also the Château, which Chateaubriand mentions in his well-known Memoirs from Beyond the Grave.

Dol de Bretagne
Dol de Bretagne, a medieval and trading city, is proud of its Breton origins and every summer offers colourful folklore festivals and events.A must-see is the Dol Cathedral, facing the marsh, as well as other historical markers.

In the main street you may visit one of the oldest houses in all of Brittany, as well as its quaint cobblestoned lanes and timbered houses. There is also the Champ Dolent with its extraordinary megalithic monuments.

Le Mont Dol
Near Dol de Bretagne, the mount represents a long, legendary, mythic history. It is a granite massif, which according to legend is the stepping off point for the Archangel Saint Michael toward Mont St. Michel. There is a magnificent view of the Bay. And check out the mill, the village, and the Chapel of Hope.

Bécherel
A famous city for books, the city of Bécherel is a reference among booksellers and bookstores as well as for flea markets, galleries, sculptors, painters, photographers, book binders and calligraphers

Fougères
Located on the outside edge of Brittany, the authentic medieval and historical city of Fougères invites you to discover its medieval quarter and its romantic quarter.

We invite you to visit the Château of Fougères, the Saint Sulpice parish, the striking Place du Marchix, the museum of Emmanuel de la Veillion, a great Impressionist painter, and finally the picturesque Savigny House with its red tiled roof.

Vitré
Home to Mme de Sévigné, Vitré has been officially named a City of Art and History. A powerful city in Brittany during the 15th and 16th centuries, the city retains its architectural heritage with its half-timbered houses and private mansions built of stone, with ornate sculpted decorations.

There is also the 11th century Château de Vitré, as well as the country house of the celebrated writer Marie de Sévigné, the magnificent Château des Rochers Sévigné and its surrounding estate.

Rennes
Rennes, the capital of the Brittany region, is a dynamic city which nonetheless retains its history and heritage.

Walking along the picturesque quais of the Vilaine River is a step back into medieval times; check out the Place Saint-Anne and its half-timbered houses, then the Place des Lices, the Rue Saint-Georges, the Saint-Pierre Cathedral and the not-to-be-missed Palace of the Breton Parliament.

Another important sight is the great Thabor Park, designed by the well-known 19th century landscape artist Denis Bühler.

Avranches
Facing the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel in the Manche department, Avranches is the city appointed to guard the priceless books and medieval manuscripts of Mont Saint Michel, and the Scriptorial is the place to go to look at these masterpieces.

There is also the Saint Gervais Basilica and its treasures, including the relic of Saint Aubert’s skull. He was the bishop of Avranches, who founded Mont Saint-Michel in the 8th century. And you must visit the Jardin des Plantes with its panoramic view of Mont Saint-Michel.

Saint James
A city used for defensive purposes, with a rich historical past. The city is known for its heritage, its American cemetery for those fallen in WWII, its Tricots St-James factory, its winding hiking trails

Granville
A bustling port city, Granville is also a resort town with a casino, and its Plat Gousset beach in the middle of the city. There is the “les Rhumbs” villa, the childhood home of the designer Christian Dior, where some of his collections are exhibited.

Granville is a dynamic city with several interesting cultural events, among them the Sorties de Bains Festival of Street Performance and the famous Carnaval Granvillais. Granville is also the departure point for going to the Chausey Islands by ferry.

The D-Day Beaches
Famous for having been at the center of the Allies D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6,1944, the city of Caen has a unique historical and military heritage.
The city also has an important Memorial which allows visitors to step back into the history of the terrible conflicts of WWII.

Another must-see is the historical circuit of William the Conqueror, its artificial “Mulberry” harbour in Arromanches, the German battery at Longues sur Mer, the American cemetery at Colleville sur Mer, the D-Day beaches and the Pointe du Hoc.

Hikes and bicycle riding
For those who like walking and hiking, whether they be novices or experienced, the Château de la Ballue is the perfect starting-off point for long walks and for exploring the many hiking trails throughout Brittany and Normandy.

Horseback Riding
Whether you are a novice or an experienced rider, come explore the area around the Mont Saint-Michel Bay on horseback. You will start from the riding centre, follow the grassy and pebbled shoreline of the Couesnon River and arrive at the foot of Mont Saint-Michel.

Crossings from Saint-Malo to Jersey
Jersey is less than an hour and a half away from Saint-Malo. An easy, comfortable ferry crossing gives the visitor an ideal opportunity to discover this Anglo-Norman island, its beaches and lovely coastline.

The Domaine des Ormes
The Domaine des Ormes offers golf and riding at Dol de Bretagne (located a mere 30 minutes from the Château de la Ballue).

Website: www.la-ballue.com

Rooms: 5

Price: from 241 EUR per night