Imported Article – 2026-05-06 23:29:40

At Croisic, celebrities don’t necessarily seek to show themselves off. They come more to breathe, find the sea, wander the streets without drawing attention or escape from a daily routine that is too exposed. The Guerande peninsula, with La Baule as its more stylish neighbor, has long attracted artists, actors, and former athletes. Some only spend a weekend there, while others return every year. A few have even chosen to make it a real anchor point, like Vianney and Eric Cantona, both linked to this part of the Loire-Atlantique.

Eric Cantona’s quiet house in Croisic

La Baule has long been the center of attention. In beach restaurants, particularly at Nossy-Be, the visits of celebrities have created a small local memory, with photos on the walls and stories shared among regulars. Jean-Paul Belmondo spent several weeks there, Lorant Deutsch and Marc Jolivet have their habits, Henri Leconte even rented a house there. Eric Cantona, on the other hand, remains associated with Croisic, where he owns a house. According to local reports by Presse Ocean, the former footballer can sometimes be seen at La Baule market without any special staging or fuss.

This discretion fits well with the spirit of the place. The region has never really operated like Saint-Tropez, where the presence of stars immediately attracts photographers. Stéphane Malhaire, director of Nossy-Be, remembers more lively periods: “We had a bit of that during the ‘Bruelmania’ or when Mel Gibson came here.” But these episodes remain sporadic. Here, celebrities blend more into the surroundings. They come for a dinner, a seawater spa, a stroll, and then leave without turning the resort into a permanent stage.

Vianney’s house, an anchor point on the coast

If La Baule seems less popular in the summer, it’s not just about its image. The sometimes uncertain weather, the absence of a real nightlife spot for thirty and fifty-year-olds, or the appeal of other destinations like Corsica have shifted some habits. When asked where the celebrities have gone, Stéphane Malhaire simply answers: “Many go to Corsica. There is a trend at the moment.” The Atlantic coast still retains its attraction, but more so off-season when the beaches empty and the gaze is less common.

Vianney, however, has a more intimate history with Croisic. He discovered the town at 12 and quickly became attached to it. Adolescent vacations, trips with friends, memories in Sissable, and even some experiences working as a waiter have woven a lasting bond with this coastal area. The singer, known to the public with “Pas là” and becoming a major figure in the French music scene, now owns a house there where he comes to recharge. Talking about this place, he told Ouest-France: “I immediately fell in love with it.”

A house in Croisic to slow down away from the spotlight

This house in Croisic has become even more significant since Vianney chose to slow down. Becoming a father in October 2021, a coach on The Voice for several seasons, a highly sought-after artist, he eventually put tours on hold to gain more time. Between Paris, studios, and TV sets, the singer had long lived in movement. In Loire-Atlantique, he finds a different rhythm, more family-oriented, simpler, in contact with the sea. It’s also where he recorded part of one of his albums, showing that the refuge has become a place of creation.

Croisic is appealing precisely because it doesn’t promise a show. Eric Cantona has a house there, Vianney returns to relax, and other personalities pass through La Baule when the season calms down. Away from the crowds of July and August, the peninsula offers a form of retreat, quite rare for well-known faces. Stéphane Malhaire sums it up regarding these public figures: “They come to La Baule off-season. For a short stay, a seawater spa. It has always been like that.” For these stars, the true local elegance may lie in: coming discreetly.