Sabine's plans for the Manoir

Originally from Offenburg, Germany, Sabine has lived in France for the past 27 years. “I’ve always worked in the hospitality industry,” she says. “I started out in hotels – a great grounding, but it doesn’t offer much of an opportunity to build relationships with guests;

“HPB’s Bondholders make full use of their portfolio of holiday properties. When you meet up with people on a regular basis, they quickly become friends as well as guests. A lot of the guests at Hilguy have been here many times before. It’s been great to meet them all, and I’m already looking forward to welcoming my new friends once again on their next visit.”

Sabine fell in love with the place as soon as she saw it. “The location, and the château itself, are just stunning. I felt good as soon as I walked through the door – it felt like I’d come home. And the staff are great too – so welcoming! Throughout spring the place is awash with hyacinths and tulips in full bloom – truly a spectacular sight, and the perfume in the air is intoxicating.”

Hilguy’s situation is a big plus as well, Sabine reckons. “It’s tucked away in the countryside, for sure; but none of Brittany’s many attractions are very far away. Quimper, the beaches, Locronan – you can reach them all in 15 minutes. Just fantastic.”

So what are some of Sabine's ideas for the future?

“I want to continue garden tours, not around and about but right here; Hilguy’s gardens are magnificent, our gardeners are rightly proud of what they’ve achieved, and they want to share it with our guests. Bondholders will be able to garden too, if they wish, as well as collecting fresh vegetables, herbs, and flowers for their properties. I found a communal garden in Quimper where the city’s residents do just that, and it’s inspired me to create something similar here. Our gardeners are creating new areas of lawn, where holidaymakers can relax in the shade of the trees. Also, once the Manoir itself has been refurbished I want to really bring the place to life – to make full use of the elegant reception rooms and the courtyard, with dances, music, fireworks, all that kind of thing.

“During the summer, when we have more families staying, I’ll be organising outings to the beach, boat trips, golf for youngsters too, as well as hamster ball and traditional Breton games: Patigo, Kilhou Koz and Boîte à Palets are names that may not mean much at the moment, but there’s an organisation in nearby Plogastel St Germain that teaches them, and they’re going to come down to the site to teach the kids (and grown-ups) how to play.”

Over the Easter weekend Sabine was busy with Bondholder families. “It’s been a great success – I think!” she laughs. “The Breton games people came down from Plogastel, armed with a fantastic selection; the children (and some of the adults) loved them. We laid on an Easter egg hunt, and a mini-Olympic Games. We held a gala dinner at the Bistro, where a troupe of Breton dancers staged a great performance; some of the more adventurous Bondholders and their children had a go as well.”

Hilguy, and Brittany, have different things to offer to different people at different times of the year. Sabine wants to provide more excursions and more activities. “I want more dance evenings… I want to bring artisan crafts and craft-making into the Manoir… I’m bursting with ideas. Some of them will come off, some may not; but really, there is so much to do here, all year round. I want to make Le Manoir du Hilguy a site for all seasons.”