Exhibition at the Maison des Peintres

In the late 19th century, Charles Vouaux took over the “Grand Hôtel de Saint Jean et des Bains and Bellevue”, which his mother had owned since 1889 and which later became the Hôtel Philippe. He turned the old village inn into a comfortable hotel for a new clientele, especially English-speaking visitors drawn by sea bathing. This was also when Saint-Jean-du-Doigt attracted many painter artists in love with the shifting light of northern Finistère, its wild coasts reminiscent of Ireland, and its villages clustered around parish closes that overlook the sea like standing stones against the wind. Charles Vouaux had this studio built especially for artists staying at the hotel, where they could work in an idyllic setting; the superb first-floor panorama inspired a wealth of work. In the late 20th century the “Maison des Peintres” fell derelict and was threatened with demolition. Spurred on by enthusiasts, the municipality decided in 1997 to save the studio. Today Saint-Jean-du-Doigt has reconnected with its past thanks to the town hall, which organises exhibitions throughout the year in this unique place.