Location. Location. Location.
The three most important aspects of any real estate are — as the saying goes — location, location and location. And when it comes to location, few places in Europe can compare to Cap Ferret.
Location (1): Between Ocean and Bay
Cap Ferret is physically unique in Europe. It lies between the vast Atlantic Ocean and the tranquil Bay of Arcachon.
On one side, an endless ribbon of golden sand — 108 kilometers of Atlantic beach — invites surfers and dreamers alike.
On the other, a chain of small sandy coves opens onto the calm, pristine waters of the bay.
This duality makes it unique on the whole European Atlantic coast.
Duality also defines the Cap Ferret spirit itself — both hippy and posh. This balance that has made Cap Ferret the (still) discreet playground of the rich and famous along France’s Atlantic coast.
Duality also defines the Cap Ferret spirit itself — both hippy and posh. This balance that has made Cap Ferret the (still) discreet playground of the rich and famous along France’s Atlantic coast.
Location (2): The True Cap Ferret Experience
There is Cap Ferret — and there is the Cap Ferret. The real magic begins where the peninsula narrows, and you can walk from the gentle bay to the Atlantic surf in just a few minutes.
Only the last kilometres of the commune offer this privilege — and this is precisely where Villa Concorde stands.
the "real" Cap Ferret is actually very small, while the municipality of Lège-Cap Ferret is one of the biggest in France
Location (3): Everything Within reach on Foot
The best way to experience Cap Ferret is on foot. From Villa Concorde, every essential place — the market, the pier, the ocean beaches, and the quiet bay — lies within a ten- to fifteen-minute walk. This rare proximity allows you to live the Cap Ferret lifestyle as it was meant to be lived: effortlessly, close to nature, and without the fear of losing your car keys in the sand.
When the Road Warrior Comes Home
What I’m about to say is an awful collection of clichés — but entirely true ones.
There is a rare kind of happiness in boarding the train at Paris-Montparnasse, closing your laptop somewhere between Bordeaux and Arcachon, and then hurrying down to the Thiers pier. You cross the bay by shuttle, watching the villas of Arcachon and the cabanes tchanquées floating in the light. And then comes the arrival — at the Bélisaire pier, in the setting sun. The children run into your arms, and you take them for an ice cream at Frédélian, arm in arm with the ones you love.
The Property
The property spans approximately 1 506 m², making it considerably larger than the average plot on Cap Ferret.
It rests upon a natural dune, a valuable feature in this famously flat region: this slight elevation keeps the ground naturally dry
despite the peninsula’s proximity to the water table and welcomes the evening sea breeze that cools the air on hot summer nights — you would think of it as a detail for a fully climatized house, but actually quite noticeable since in summer you live outside. The dune gives the villa a pleasant sense of both openness and privacy.
The Garden
The garden faces south and west, bathing the property in sunlight throughout the day and capturing the best of the evening light.
From the street, the house is hidden behind a rise covered with wild shrubs and pine trees, preserving both privacy and the natural character of the landscape. At the top of the dune, the garden opens into a landscaped space surrounding four wooden decks, where most of life takes place during summer.
Tall pines provide generous shade, while dense evergreen hedges on the southern side shield the garden from the wind and create a feeling of intimacy.
Just a few steps from the west-facing bedrooms and the library lie the swimming pool and the spa, discreetly separated by vegetation. Both face west, overlooking the far end of the garden and the neighbouring pine groves — perfectly positioned to catch the last light of the day. The swimming pool is an Endless Pool equipped with a turbine — a system designed for serious swimmers, used by triathletes and Ironman competitors. The spa, on the other hand, is dedicated to pure relaxation — reaching for your cocktail is the only physical exercise permitted.
At the very end of the garden stands a small wooden cabin, fully insulated and connected to electricity and high-speed internet.
Once used as an office, it offers complete tranquillity — ideal for reading, working, or simply retreating into silence. Beside it grows a majestic fig tree, whose wide branches invite children to build their own lair from which they can start their own adventures.
The Villa
The villa was built in 1987 for Pierre Bonnafy, Trésorier Payeur Général d’Aquitaine — a stern man who liked things done properly. His architect, Brigitte Gonfreville, was something of a pioneer: the first woman in Bordeaux to establish her own independent practice, and a name admired by those who prefer their houses to blend into the landscape rather than shout across it — very understated, very Bordelais.
A house for all seasons
The Villa was never meant to be a mere summer cabin with sand on the floorboards and bicycles in the hall. Bonnafy wanted a house for all seasons, as comfortable in January as in July.
It was built accordingly, with the sturdiness and seriousness one might expect from a man who balanced public accounts for a living: solid walls, excellent insulation, a reversible heat pump, and air conditioning.
Finally, he imposed a monumental tiled fireplace capable of warming the entire house, as proven during the storm of ’99, when Mr. Bonnafy and his son heated the house for their families — including two babies — by chopping and burning wood from fallen trees for two character building weeks
A house designed for company
The grand salon, with its six-metre ceiling and 63 m² of open space, was built for receptions and music. Its acoustics are superb — Mr. Bonnafy cousin’s, an opera singer, once performed there.
Up to forty local dignitaries would rub shoulders at the famed the cocktails dînatoires that Ms. Bonnafy organized to bolster her husband’s career. The adjoining 30 m² terrace makes it easy to let dinners drift outdoors.
Making Guests Perfectly Bearable During Longer Stays
When friends or family visit Cap Ferret, it is rarely for just an evening.
The distance involved means they tend to stay — and stay — and the line
between hosting and housing can become perilously thin.
As the misanthropic but well observed saying goes: guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days. Everyone wakes at different hours. The early risers clatter about the kitchen while the late sleepers emerge to find the coffee pot long empty. Meals must be coordinated, small talk maintained, and before long the host starts dreaming of solitude.
Mr. Bonnafy, who had clearly given this matter some thought, found an elegant solution. The villa comprises three entirely independent houses, each with its own kitchen, living room, and bathrooms. The result is that friends and family remain delightful company — because they are, in effect, your nearest neighbours rather than your permanent houseguests.
It’s a design that preserves harmony, friendship, and everyone’s sanity. You are together when you wish to be, not when you must.
As the misanthropic but well observed saying goes: guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days. Everyone wakes at different hours. The early risers clatter about the kitchen while the late sleepers emerge to find the coffee pot long empty. Meals must be coordinated, small talk maintained, and before long the host starts dreaming of solitude.
Mr. Bonnafy, who had clearly given this matter some thought, found an elegant solution. The villa comprises three entirely independent houses, each with its own kitchen, living room, and bathrooms. The result is that friends and family remain delightful company — because they are, in effect, your nearest neighbours rather than your permanent houseguests.
It’s a design that preserves harmony, friendship, and everyone’s sanity. You are together when you wish to be, not when you must.
Comfort and Space
Altogether, the villa offers 220 m² of living space: six bedrooms (two ensuite), one library, three living rooms, three kitchens, three toilets, and four bathrooms — comfortably sleeping up to fourteen people without it ever feeling crowded.
There are also 110 m² of bright, dry utility areas, comprising two annexes and a large basement with a cellar, laundry, storage room, and a three-car garage. At the far end of the garden, an 18 m² wooden cabin, once used as an office, offers complete calm, with power and high-speed internet. Another 22 m² outbuilding, currently used for storage, could easily be converted into a guest studio. Finally, the driveway — wide enough to accommodate a 7.5-metre boat — completes the picture.
To build a similar home today would require a plot of around 2,000 m² — a rarity on the peninsula.
Enjoy the House Immediately — Without the Hassle of Renovation
Unlike many properties on the peninsula, this house requires no restoration, no endless visits from contractors, and no nervous phone calls about tiles that “should arrive next week.” Everything has already been done — and done properly.
The kitchens and bathrooms were completely rebuilt between two and five years ago, under the supervision of an interior architect, and to a very high standard. The main kitchen, finished in granite like the two others, is a cook’s delight — whether the cook in question is professional, enthusiastic, or simply opinionated.
In the garden, the whirlpool spa is new, and the swimming pool has been freshly renovated. All decks are recent and well maintained.
The house is, in short, ready to live in from day one. Of course, redecorating can be a pleasure in itself. Letting one’s inner architect speak is great fun; dealing with craftsmen on the Cap Ferret, rather less so.
There are only so many serious artisans on the peninsula, they already have more work than time — and their work–life balance is definitely tilted toward the latter.
Speaking of time and peace of mind: the property comes with a trusted concierge, who knows the house inside out. He can handle most things himself, and for everything else, he knows precisely whom to call. Having someone like that nearby on the Ferret may sound like a luxury, but actually it is a necessity, if you do not want to start your stay with a MacGyver moment.
Interested?
Words and pictures tell only part of the story; the rest is best discovered in person — at sunset, with a glass in hand.
We welcome serious enquiries for further information and to arrange private visits.