Le Contre-Temps

The house is beautiful and so well looked after, and breakfast was perfect. The owner couple were incredibly friendly and gave us excellent advice. We had a wonderful welcome and would happily come back.

Our one night in the "Arpège" room at the "Contre-temps" guest house left us wishing we could have stayed longer. At about 40m², it was magnificent and very spacious, with restful modern colors, lots of light, French windows onto the garden, and a terrace with deckchairs where we could take in the lovely setting. The room was remarkably clean, from the sheets to the towels, and tastefully furnished. It has the bedroom, a sitting area with a sofa and fireplace, and a complete, practical, well-equipped bathroom. There were thoughtful little extras in the room: a small bottle of mineral water, which was welcome since my husband and I are always thirsty when we arrive somewhere, salted butter caramels, and a travel pack of tissues as well as a tissue box. The bathroom had handy liquid soap, makeup remover pads, and ear-cleaning sticks. The bed was very comfortable, which isn't always the case in guest rooms elsewhere. There's also a shared lounge outside the room where you can make as much coffee and tea as you like. It's the loveliest guest room we've stayed in. Breakfast included several kinds of bread, including organic, a wonderful range of teas, coffee, delicious jams that weren't too sweet, freshly squeezed orange juice, and yogurt. Tea is often overlooked in hotels, so the choice was especially nice. Josette was genuinely welcoming and knows the region well. We first came to this beautiful area for a wedding, and now we'd like to return for a holiday or a long weekend. I recommend this place without reservation. We didn't get to try the spa, which must be a real treat.

We thought we'd missed out on Contre Temps because we booked too late and there was no availability. We don't give up easily, though, and the day before we left, a vacationer canceled. We were lucky to be welcomed by Josette and Alain. It was love at first sight, hard to believe, but Contre Temps really is worth finding, away from the usual routes. The rhythm of the stay fell into place quickly. We arrived eager to drop our bags and get some well-earned rest. The gate opened onto a beautiful courtyard, and the owners greeted us with welcoming smiles. They showed us the warm, flower-filled, very clean terrace, which made us want to sit down for a drink after the journey. Josette and Alain kindly offered us one. Then we settled into L'Arpège and immediately felt at home. It was bright and very comfortable, with lots of thoughtful touches for you to discover. The region is enchanting and perhaps not well known enough, stretching from the Côte de la Mine d'Or to the Brière Nature Reserve, a wonderful expanse of nature, freedom, and relaxation. We explored it on the bikes provided. Afterward, it was lovely to return to our room and enjoy the terrace, jacuzzi, and lounge area, then sleep well. In the morning, Alain's musical selection and the delicious homemade pastries drew us to the veranda for breakfast, whether we'd slept in or not. By the end, time seemed to stand still and we didn't want to leave. A rare chance to share a peaceful place and experience something special, at Contre-temps!

We had a wonderful stay, and the warm welcome, quality of the rooms, and location all stood out. If you're heading to Pénestin, we highly recommend staying at Les Deux Ailes.