A story of tears, of a tomb of tears as a cradle. The tears shed by the fairies, saddened to have been driven from the forest of Brocéliande, which gave birth to the Gulf of Morbihan. Flooding the land, this lachrymal flow has given rise to a string of islands where you can take refuge, l'île aux Moines or l'île d'Arz. The fairies then threw their wreaths of flowers to create the other islets scattered across the gulf. There are 365 of them, according to the organisers, and 42 in total according to geographers.
The Domaine du Liziec, the new jewel in the crown of the Vannes hotel industry, evokes this sorrowful drizzle. The spectacular chandelier over the lobby tells the story of those legendary tears, while fairy wreaths and wands decorate the headboards of each of the 71 bedrooms, including 12 suites. As for the rest of the décor, designed by Nadège El Amine, it pays homage to the region, combining mineral elements - beaches, cliffs and pebbles - with the vegetation of Brittany and its fabulous woods.
Opened at the end of 2024, this top-of-the-range hotel offers a contemporary take on a château built in the 16th century.e It was built in the 19th century as the family home of local personalities, including the descendants of the marshal of the Empire Gabriel Fabre, who will own the property until 2019. Purchased by the entrepreneurial siblings Laurent and Philippe Davalo, founders of the Hamiform animal feed group and promoters of the Park Avenue business incubator, Domaine du Liziec can now draw on the local economic fabric to support its seminar business.
Because this four-star boutique hotel, affiliated with the MGallery from the Accor group, has not only become a favoured spot for leisure clients seeking rejuvenation, thanks to its spa or its Michelin-aspiring restaurant, its chef Olivier Samson having already enjoyed Michelin favour (Ed. note: La Table du Domaine du Liziec has since been awarded one star by the Michelin Guide)Its attendance is also and above all driven by business tourism, with the Domaine du Liziec offering one of the largest accommodation capacities in the Breton metropolis for this purpose, alongside the Mercure Vannes le Port hotel.
" We welcome a large number of companies based in Brittany, particularly in the agri-food sector.explains hotel manager James Scialom. But thanks to the strength of the Accor group, we can also count on a national clientele, including banks and insurance companies, for two- or three-night incentive stays punctuated by cultural and tourist activities. "At the same time, a number of itinerant business travellers have made the site their base camp for criss-crossing the region. The location's proximity to the main road, as well as a large car park where visiting professionals, event participants and clients who have come for a business meal can easily park, is no small factor in this choice.
An orangery on Vannes soil
Nestling in six hectares of parkland, the undergrowth of which, in the heart of a forest classified as a League for the Protection of Birds, contains trees several hundred years old, the Domaine du Liziec Vannes - MGallery is first and foremost the ideal place to get away from it all. French-style gardens, orchard and kitchen garden: the establishment has been awarded the Green Key has other durable arguments to seduce organisers. In addition to a MICE offering suited to all types of events, these two 120 m² lounges can accommodate 80 people in theatre format and around 40 in a U configuration. For smaller meetings, the hotel also has a 25 m² private room in which to organise executive committees or gourmet business meals, with Michelin-starred chef Olivier Samson and his teams overseeing all catering for seminars and meetings.
But the heart of the hotel's events offering lies above all in its Orangerie, a specially designed events area in the grounds. Anything is possible, even bringing in vehicles as Mercedes and Range Rover did, or organising barbecues on the terrace in fine weather. More traditionally, the Orangerie can host cocktail parties for 400 people, banquets for 250 with a dance floor, or be used as a plenary room for 325 professionals in theatre format. But while the hall covers 500 m², it is also suitable for smaller meetings of 80 or 100 people, offering a modular space that can accommodate a break area and areas for meals, presentations or exhibitions.
Bose Pro Power Space sound system, 4K LED video wall and back-up screens, stage lighting, backstage kitchen: the Orangerie's equipment is based on the latest technologies, with events supported entirely by the hotel's teams. " You don't just hire a room, you hire a service "says James Scialom. With the added advantage of being able to extend convivial moments late into the night, without disturbing the smooth running of the establishment. To take things even further, the Domaine du Liziec Vannes - MGallery is already thinking about adding a little sister to this space, a 250m² longère, capable of hosting receptions for up to 180 people under the same conditions.
Local events, residential seminars, potential privatisations: the appeal of the Domaine du Liziec combines with the appeal of a destination whose cultural heritage was recently highlighted by the recognition of the megaliths of Carnac and Morbihan as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As for its natural heritage... the fairies have taken care of that!
