The castle in Epoisse (Burgundy) is amazing.Building started in the 10th century, and the domain consists of several buildings, all in good state. The castle is open for visits, including the domain itself.

The Port-Louis Citadel/Fortress in Brittany is in a very good state, and is now a museum. Built by the Spaniards and improved by the French (and Germans during WWII), it’s quite a spectacle.

The ramparts (fortified walls) of Vannes are near totally preserved over the centuries. There are not many of these left in France, and they can see seen from different angles. A highly recommended visit.

The city of Vannes in Brittany is old, and very well preserved. The fortified walls extend all along the old city centre and merits a visit.

Chateau Dauzac in Labarde (Margaux area) is known by specialities as an excellent wine producer. You can visit the castle, cellars and enjoy some of their educational programs (like pairing cheese with wines).

Chateau-Marojallia at the Margaux-Cantenac commune in the Bordeaux region is considered a “garage wine” producer. The castle and its cellars can be visited if you book in advance.

The Chateau Durfort-Vivens is not much as a castle, but as wines go, it’s top class. It’s part of the margaux area of topclass wines.

Chateau Cantenac Brown at Margaux-Cantenac is not only a beautiful castle, but also a top class wine producer.

Chateau Desmirail in Margaux-Cantenac is one of those important and recognised wines from the Bordeaux area. The castle and winery can be visited when you reserve well in advance.

Chateau Palmer, named after a British owner, is another one of the famous Margaux wines. The castle can be visited.

Chateau Margaux is not only a beautiful castle that can be visited, it is also one of the most famous and prestigious wines in the world. You can visit it, and even taste their wines.

The Saint-Clair Castle at Les Sables-d’Olonne is small but does its job; protecting the harbour entrance. Now it’s a museum.

Les-Sables-d’Olonne is a nice coastal town in the Atlantic, but it’s mostly known as departure and arrival point of the grueling single handed round-the-world sail race without any stops, the Vendee Globe.

The Bretteville Castle at Bretteville-Saint-Laurent in Normandy, France is a little jewel and it can be visited.

Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile is a popular summer holiday destination for the French. The island is littered with salt marshes and bird sanctuaries. A massive castle can be found in the village centre. Here’s how to get there, what to see and where to sleep/eat.

The Chateau de Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile, on the Noirmoutier island, is quite amazing for such a small village. Today, it’s a museum

Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile is a small village on the island of Noirmoutier in the region of “Pays de la Loire”. Located below Brittany the island is a popular summer holiday destination for the French. The village, with its 4800 inhabitants, lies on the Northern part of the Noirmoutier island. The island itself is located in the Atlantic […]

In a small town in Upper Normandy called Ermenouville you will find this quite spectacular castle. Ermenouville is a very small village, just some 150 inhabitants, but still they have this very beautiful castle dating back to the 17th century. The gardens of the castle are well known and respected. They have the largest collection […]

The castle in Nantes is the former quarters of the Duke of Brittany. The castle, more a fortress, is enormous and can be visited. The Duke’s “hunting” lodge in Sarzeau, Brittany is nicer to visit (it’s called the Suscino Castle – click here to read our review ) but this one if not so shabby […]

Nantes is France’s 6th largest city with some 300,000 inhabitants and 950,000 in the metropolitan area, and it was once the capital of Brittany (that was in the 15th century). Although over the centuries it was part of the Brittany region, nowadays it is no longer considered as such, much to the displeasure of its […]

Camaret-sur-Mer in Brittany is a small town, some 2700 inhabitants, with a very scenic harbour, enormous dramatic cliffs and a very big monument. The village/town is old, very old. Traces of habitation can be found as far back as 2500 years BC! In those days, the place was for druides and their magical stone, the […]

Although this castle can not be visited on the inside, you can walk in the gardens and look around the castle on the outside. The castle is located close to one of Dinard‘s beaches. The city had ordered the chateau to be built for the Royal couple, Napoleon III and his beautiful wife, Eugenie. They […]

Nestled close to the Southernmost border between Spain and France in the Basque area, Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a small city of some 15,000 inhabitant but with a big history. More about the history further on… Saint-Jean-de-Luz is located South of Biarritz and on the Atlantic coast. It has a large and long beach, which is quite […]

Bayonne, located in the South West of France, is particularly known for its ham and its chocolates (and its rugby club). Apart from that, the city is a medieval city that has been reasonably well conserved over the centuries. The inner part of the city centre is old but well maintained. Bayonne is divided by […]