Centre de Moulin Mer

What Centre de Moulin Mer does

Centre de Moulin Mer is a French non-profit (Association déclarée under Association Don Bosco, SIRET 775 577 950 00477) operating an integrated nautical, hospitality, and education complex on a 3-hectare coastal site in Logonna-Daoulas, Brittany, facing the Rade de Brest. Founded in 1962 by Jacques Kerhoas as France's first "classe de mer" (sea-class) center, it has run pedagogical sea-stay programs for 60+ years. The asset base comprises 43 rooms (137 beds) across four pavilions (Glénan, Molène, Ouessant, Sein) all with sea views and private bathrooms; a 130-cover panoramic restaurant (Le Béniguet) led by Chef Bertrand Kersaudy; seven meeting rooms (412m² total) suitable for 30-150 person events; and an embedded nautical center with private port and ~30 catamarans managed by partner LMD (Loisirs Mer Découverte). Supporting infrastructure includes 7 wheelchair-accessible rooms and a 2019 adapted boat launch ramp.

The business model is multi-stream hospitality and educational tourism rather than a single product line. Core revenue derives from accommodation (school stays, group vacations, adapted stays, hiking gîte d'étape), restaurant/catering, meeting-room and event-venue rental, nautical activities through LMD, and private events. Distribution combines direct website/phone/email sales with a Mews booking integration, B2B corporate inquiries routed through Route des Pingouins, and partner channels (Route des Pingouins, Itirando, UNAT Bretagne's Envies d'Ouest Vélo-Rando network, Club Finistère Affaires). Pricing is partially publicly disclosed; school pricing benefits from up to 70% departmental subsidies plus 50% municipal subsidies for residents under 18, materially lowering the effective price for the largest customer segment.

Following a 2025 operating lease signed with Communauté de Pays de Landerneau-Daoulas (CAPLD), operational stewardship passed to La Route des Pingouins alongside partners LMD and MM Projet, the latter leading rehabilitation of the adjacent historic tide mill into an artist and tourist residence across a 6-hectare domain. The customer mix spans school groups (primary segment), people with disabilities, hikers on GR34, businesses (seminar and incentive clients), and private events. Permanent staff count is 6, scaling to ~18 seasonally, indicating a small operator with substantial fixed infrastructure.

Name

Centre de Moulin Mer

Legal name

Association Don Bosco - Centre de Moulin Mer

Website

https://moulin-mer.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Centre de Moulin Mer is a French non-profit (Association Don Bosco) operating France's first sea-class center, founded 1962 in Brittany, offering integrated accommodation, restaurant, meeting rooms, and nautical activities for school groups, hikers, people with disabilities, corporate seminars, and private events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nautical and Leisure Hospitality Center

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Other Traveler Accommodation (72119), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Coastal & Marine Nature Lodges (THAGAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beachfront & Coastal Full-Service Hotels (THAGAAAI), Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Coastal Tours (THAAAIAF)

Keywords

• Sea class education
• Nautical activity center
• Group accommodation services
• Corporate seminar venue
• Accessible vacation stays

Headquarters

HQ city

Logonna-Daoulas

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Accommodation services: Rooms and dormitory accommodations with 43 rooms and 137 beds across 4 pavillons (Glénan, Molène, Ouessant, Sein), offering single, twin, or triple configurations with private bathrooms and sea views.
2. Restaurant and catering: Restaurant Beniguet with 130-cover capacity, panoramic views of Rade de Brest, serving traditional Breton cuisine prepared by Chef Bertrand Kersaudy. Also offers catering for events and private functions.
3. Meeting room and event venue rental: 7 meeting rooms across 2 buildings (Foyer du Marin and Sein) available for seminars, corporate events, weddings, and private celebrations. Various capacity options from 30 to 150 persons.
4. Nautical activities: Sailing lessons, water sports, and nautical activities for children (6-17 years) and adults, offered through partner LMD (Loisirs Mer Découverte). Includes subsidies for local residents under 18.
5. School and group stays: Package stays for school groups (classes de mer), vacation groups, adapted stays for people with disabilities, and hiker accommodations including full board.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Centre de Moulin Mer is a multi-service nautical and leisure center operating from a 3-hectare coastal domain in Logonna-Daoulas, Brittany. Its core offerings include sea-class school programs, nautical activities (sailing, kayaking, catamaran), accommodations across four pavilions (43 rooms / 137 beds), a panoramic restaurant, seven meeting rooms, and specialized adapted stays for people with disabilities. The center combines educational tourism, group lodging, and event hosting as an integrated hospitality and outdoor-education facility.

Product overview

Centre de Moulin Mer is a multi-service nautical and leisure center operated by Association Don Bosco, offering an integrated portfolio of products centered around its historical position as France's first sea class centre (since 1962). The core offering combines nautical activities managed by partner LMD (sailing, kayaking, catamaran, paddle), with accommodation services (4 pavilions with 140+ beds, restaurant with 130 covers), and specialized stay programs. The product portfolio includes: sea classes and school trips, adapted stays for people with disabilities, group vacation camps, seminars and incentives for corporate clients, private event venue rental, hiking accommodation (gîte d'étape), and leisure stays for individuals and families. Supporting infrastructure includes 7 meeting rooms, a panoramic restaurant, and direct waterfront access with integrated nautical center and private port.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Classes de Mer (Sea Classes) The historical flagship product and first sea class program in France: multi-day (2-14 day) school trips combining maritime discovery, sailing, water activities, and environmental education for school groups.
• Nautical Activities and Sailing School Water sports activities operated by partner LMD (Loisirs Mer Découverte), including sailing, kayaking, catamaran, paddle, boat rides, and windsurfing for children (6-17) and adults, with 30+ catamarans in the fleet.
• Séjours Adaptés (Adapted Stays) Specialized vacation programs for people with disabilities featuring 7 wheelchair-accessible rooms, specialized equipment, adapted nautical activities, and trained staff.
• Séjours Vacances Groupes (Group Vacation Stays) Vacation programs for groups of young people including colonies de vacances (summer camps) featuring nautical activities, outdoor sports, and environmental discovery with full board.
• Séminaires et Incentives (Seminars & Incentives) Corporate event services including meeting rooms, team-building activities, catering, and accommodations for businesses seeking professional retreats combined with nautical team-building options.
• Location de Salles et Événements Privés (Private Event Venue Rental) Private event hosting including weddings, birthdays, and celebrations with multiple venue options (Terenez, Le Stiff, Amphithéâtre), catering partnerships, and on-site accommodations.
• Séjours Randonneurs (Hiking Stays) Gîte d'étape accommodation for hikers with 20 rooms (62 beds), featuring access to GR34 coastal trail, partner services with Itirando for hiking routes, and meals included.
• Séjours Loisirs (Leisure Stays) Vacation stays for couples, friends, and families with comfortable waterfront accommodations, restaurant dining, and access to regional activities and cultural sites.
• Restaurant Le Béniguet Panoramic restaurant with 130 covers managed by Chef Bertrand Kersaudy, serving traditional Breton cuisine with local seafood products.
• Hébergement (Accommodations) Four accommodation pavilions (Glénan, Molène, Ouessant, Sein) totaling 43 rooms and 137 beds, all with private bathrooms and sea views.
• Salles de Réunion (Meeting Rooms) Seven meeting rooms across two buildings (Foyer du Marin and Sein) totaling 412m², all equipped with WiFi and audio-visual equipment for seminars, corporate events, weddings, and private celebrations.
• Environmental Education Activities Nature and environmental discovery programs for school groups including shore exploration, tide pool fishing, landscape interpretation, and biodiversity studies, with free animations provided by Syndicat de Bassin de l'Elorn.
• Voile Scolaire (School Sailing) Free 8-session sailing program for students from Communauté de Commune du Pays de Landerneau Daoulas schools, including kayaks, paddleboards, windsurfing, and group sailing boats, with transport included.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40-60 school stays per year, demonstrating consistent institutional trust
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• LMD - Loisirs Mer DécouvertecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert partner managing all nautical activities at the center. Specialized in water sports education, sailing school operations, and recreational water activities. Provides qualified instructors and manages the nautical equipment fleet.
• MM ProjetmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject to rehabilitate the historic tide mill adjacent to the nautical center, creating an artist and tourist residence. 6-hectare domain with 5-century history including roles as mill, German barracks, officer training school, vacation residence, and restaurant.
• ItirandominorGTM or Marketing PartnerHiking route planning partner for GR34 coastal trail preparation. Helps hikers plan complete stays combining walking and center accommodations.
• Route des PingouinscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTourism network along GR34 from Morlaix Bay to Brest, including island stops. Promotes the center through their network of hotels, restaurants, and gites. Created in 2011 as extension of Château de Kergroadez renovation project.
• Envies d'Ouest Vélo-RandominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPart of 24-center solidarity tourism network in Brittany promoting cycling and hiking without constraints.
• Club Finistère AffairesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness tourism association ensuring quality service standards and solidarity among members in Finistère region.
• Communauté de Communes du Pays de Landerneau DaoulascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government providing free 8-session sailing cycles for schools including transport. Supporting educational programs and community tourism development.
• Conseil Départemental du FinistèrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartmental council providing 70% subsidies plus transport for school classes de mer stays.
• Région BretagneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government supporting territorial development and tourism infrastructure.
• Syndicat de Bassin de l'ElornminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWater basin authority providing free environmental education animations for schools in their territory (Commana to Brest Métropole).
• Traiteur GarciaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatering partner (St Renéan) for private events and receptions.
• Tradition BretagneminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatering partner in Brest for event catering services.
• La Table BretonneminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatering partner for event catering services.
• La CapitainerieminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMobile creperie and food truck partner for events.
• Chef traiteur Denis ChanoitminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfessional chef catering partner for private events.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Fédération Française des Clubs Nautiques (FFCN) affiliated centres: Federation of French sailing clubs operating nautical schools, sailing courses, and aquatic activities across coastal France. Overlaps with Moulin Mer's sailing-school and catamaran programming managed by partner LMD, though generally without the integrated lodging model.
• VVF Villages (Odalys): Established French chain of vacation villages with on-site dining, activities, and meeting facilities, operating at materially larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Moulin Mer. Overlaps on family/group leisure, school-trip, and corporate-seminar demand pools.

Direct peers

• Telligo: French specialist operator of youth and group vacation stays ('colonies de vacances') with multi-activity programs. Directly comparable to Moulin Mer's 'séjours vacances groupes' product line targeting school-age children and youth group bookings.
• UCPA: Major French outdoor-sports association operating vacation and training centres with nautical, sailing, and environmental-education offerings. Comparable to Centre de Moulin Mer in combining accommodations, multi-sport programming, and school/youth segments in coastal settings.
• UCEL (Union des Centres d'Étude et de Loisirs): French network of education-and-leisure centres running school trips, classes de découverte, and group stays. Comparable to Moulin Mer on the pedagogical-residence / school-stay core product, particularly 'classes de mer' style programming.
• Cap France: Network of French tourist residences offering lodging, on-site activities, and group/family stays, including in coastal Brittany. Highly comparable operating model to Moulin Mer's combination of accommodation, on-site restaurant, meeting rooms, and activity programming.
• Vacances Pour Tous (CAP): Federation network of non-profit tourism residences and holiday centres in France, including family, group, and accessible-stay offerings. Directly comparable to Moulin Mer's non-profit, multi-segment, subsidy-supported operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNyvhECzk33KHlnhi-L8odg
• Facebookfacebook.com/1543742455901545
• Instagraminstagram.com/centremoulinmer
• Pinterestfr.pinterest.com/centredemoulinm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-de-moulin-mer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centre de Moulin Mer