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A Visit to Combourg, Brittany, France
Combourg is a quaint town located in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of Brittany. It has been given the title petite cité de caractère which means, according to Petitecitedecaractere.com, that they have taken it upon themselves to “maintain, restore, safeguard and publicize that heritage, thereby contributing to the economic development of the region.” Combourg lies between the cities of Rennes and St. Malo. It has a population of roughly 6,000 people. The town served as inspiration for the writer François René de Châteaubriand, considered one of France’s most cherished Romantic novelists. Strolling about the castle and surrounding gardens, it is easy to see why. While I found the château lovely, it was…
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A Coastal Drive in Brittany
The days are growing longer, reminding us that spring is just around the corner. Spring is my favorite season, as it is always full of the promise of new life. This year, I think that rings even more true. With some encouraging news about vaccines, we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief, knowing that we may see some sense of normality yet this year. Those of us with a serious case of wanderlust are beginning to imagine – and dare I say plan – for the day that starts with an early check-in at the airport, and ends with our feet touching the soil of a foreign land.…
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A Day in Quimper, Bretagne, France
Locronan and Quimper have long been on my list of places to visit in Brittany; Locronan for its charm and Quimper for its faïence, shopping, and cultural activities. Last spring, we made a weekend getaway to Quimper and Locronan, staying the night just outside the charming village of Locronan. Two days was a perfect introduction to the Finistère department of Brittany and enough time to know that we want to revisit as soon as we can. Quimper, Brittany’s capital city, lies about 20 minutes from Locronan and a little over 2 1/2 hours by car from Rennes. Quimper is a large city for Brittany, with about 67,000 inhabitants (as of 2015).…
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A Visit to Saint Suliac, Bretagne, France
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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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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…
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An Afternoon in Rennes
After a comfortable and relaxed train ride from Paris – only about an hour and a half – we arrive in Rennes, the capital city of la Bretagne. Rennes is located in the eastern part of Brittany, in the Ille-et-Vilaine department. It has a population of about 700,000 people, and is listed as one of France’s most livable cities. It is not surprising, with its vibrant and eclectic atmosphere, rich history, art museums, several well-known universities, and almost 60 parks. It also offers a wide variety of restaurants to suit just about anyone’s palette. Rennes is a main hub for travel, which makes it very easy to catch a connecting…
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A Visit to Saint Suliac, Bretagne, France
