Grand Hotel des Bains

Rooms

Of the 36 rooms, 27 have sea views, while 9 (cheaper rooms) have a decent view of the village church. Van Lier’s genius has been to provide a sensation of space, both inside and out. "The key," he says, "is to provide lots of place perdue (unused space). This is what gives a house charm." If you’re after outdoor space, the lower your room, the larger your balcony - and the ground floor terraces are vast. The trade-off is the view: the higher you go, the better the view.

Décor throughout is simple but stylish, with a successful combination of crisp linen pillows and sheets, check bedcovers and cushions, and matching walls and sofas. Colour-wise, soothing moss greens dominate, but some rooms are decorated in gentle blues, greys or reds. There’s no fussiness, the only gadgetry being a flat screen TV on the wall. Seaweed botanical prints add a point of interest. White bathrooms are unpretentiously simple (you go to the spa if you want pampering), but indulged with gorgeous L'Occitane products - the only hotel in Brittany to stock them to date.

Our favourite rooms were 107, 207 and 307 which, being on the corner, have views both to the sea and the garden, and a luxurious feeling of space. The 01’s are the biggest, but still cosy in winter, and those on the first and second floors have four-poster beds; the King and Queen of Belgium stayed in #101 in 2005. All first floor sea-view rooms have huge terraces, which are very popular in the summer (but command a small supplement). Rooms 111 and 211 are small and only suitable for children. If you are a light sleeper, avoid the church-view rooms (which are otherwise quite charming) because of the morning bells. And those of a very delicate disposition should opt for a third-floor room, as overhead floorboards can be creaky.