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A Day in Dinan, Bretagne, France
Whenever I mention Dinan to people who have been there, they get this dreamy look in their eyes and …… I know. I know exactly what they’re thinking and feeling. This charming, medieval town has it all: half-timbered buildings, cobbled streets, almost 2 miles of ramparts, and even a castle. Dinan has the honor being classified as a Ville d’Art et d’Histoire, or Town of Art and History, so named because of its historic monuments, and is home to dozens of artists, sculptors, and merchants. Dinan is located in the northwestern part of France, in the Cotes d’armor department of Bretagne (Brittany). The walls surrounding the historic center date back…
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A Visit to Saint Suliac, Bretagne, France
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A Visit to the Château de Fougères
About 29 km from Vitré, and 51 km from Rennes, lies the commune of Fougères. It is home to the exquisite Château de Fougères, the largest medieval fortified castle in Europe. Tens of thousands of visitors come to the château every year, and it is easy to see why. There are regular guided tours as well as informational displays throughout, making for an educational and entertaining day for people of all ages. Upon arrival, one is immediately struck by the castle’s beauty, with its impressive entrance and sprawling ramparts, the tall turrets and winding moat. Originally built in the 11th century, most of what we see today is thanks to…
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An Afternoon in Vitré
Imagine spending an afternoon visiting not one, but two castles, both under 30 km of each other. Such an opportunity exists in this magnificent region, as Brittany is home to well over a dozen magnificent châteaux. Last July, we spent a lovely afternoon visiting Vitré and Fougères, two communes that lie in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of central Brittany. While we visited both towns in one afternoon, I would recommend spending at least a few hours in each, allowing for long, leisurely strolls and taking in every bit of the charm that they have to offer. Today, I will highlight our visit to Vitré with an additional post coming soon about…
