The incredible decision of a family who bought a house knowing it would flood: “We will enter the house by boat”
Two couples in France chose to buy a house on the bank of a river, although they knew from the beginning that they would have to deal with floods. With all the risks, I say the beauty of the place and the tranquility of the area outweighed the danger of the water.
Rachel Guyomard in the area that conquered her PHOTO: Le Télégramme/ Romain Leroux
In December 2025, the Guyomard family purchased an old house of 48 square meters, built in 1850, located in Pont-Réan, a town near Bruz, on the banks of the Vilaine River. The home, although small, immediately won him over with its view and location.
“When we saw the ad, we were captivated by the sight. We used to walk around the area often and always thought how lucky the owners of this house are”Rachel Guyomard told Le Télégramme.
The two spouses were aware from the beginning that the building had been flooded several times in the past. In January 2025, the water had reached 1.25 meters on the ground floor, but this did not make them give up.
The floods did not deter them
Rachel Guyomard says she spoke openly with underwriters before making the final decision. “I called insurance and they explained that since the ground floor is only used for storage there is no problem. If there was living space, we wouldn't have bought“, she specified.
Although the floods in January 2025 scared off many potential buyers, the family managed to buy the house for 164,000 euros, a price even higher than the original valuation.
“We fought to get it. We were shocked to learn that there was another buyer who offered the same price given the flood risksRachel also said.
According to estate agent Isabelle Le Bail, “since the January 2025 floods, some buyers don't even want to hear about Bruz”. However, the charm of the village of Pont-Réan and its landscapes continue to attract people willing to take risks.
Prepare for future river overflows
The Guyomard family knows it's only a matter of time before the water enters the house again. On one wall of the ground floor you can still see the traces left by the floods of the past, marked by the former owners.
“We know we will be flooded, but we are not afraid. My grandparents always lived in Pont-Réan and in winter the roads to their house were often blocked by waterRachel explained.
To limit the damage, the two spouses have already taken concrete measures. “We lifted everything downstairs – the sockets, the furniture. We will use plastic crates that we can easily move if we need to. If the water reaches us, we know that we won't be able to enter the house a few days, maybe just by boat. But it's nothing. We just have to let the water pass, because at these levels you can't do anything else.” she also said.
Despite the obvious risks, the family says they don't regret the choice they made and that the peace and beauty of the place is worth any inconvenience.
