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 […]

If ever there was a castle that merits a detour to view, it’s this one. The Suscinio castle is a fortress, including a real moat, built for the Duke of Brittany in the 13th century.   The castle was built as a hunting lodge for the Duke who was a passionate hunter. The castle, including […]

The castle at the seatown of Pornic in Pays de Loire is the most visible item in the scenic landscape. It dominates the town. The castle is located partially on the sea promenade, partially on the public beach. So although the castle is in private hands, you can see it from all angles, and up […]

Driving around the Brittany coastline you might just see some signs for the Guildo Castle. You’ll need to take a few country roads to get there, but once there you’ll see something pretty amazing. Located some 500 meters from the town and bridge are the ruins of a fortress/castle. The first castle was built here […]

In the beach town of Concarneau, alongside the city centre and harbors, you will find this amazing fortress. It was voted as the favorite place in Brittany by the Bretons. On the outskirts of Concarneau are several spas and thalasso hotels, but if you keep driving away from these hotels alongside the coastline, you’ll head […]

In the peaceful and quiet village of Gueures in Normandy, you will find a splendid castle located alongside the Saane river. Built around the 18th century on the grounds of a previous fortress, the chateau now is in private hands. And yes, you do see a large windmill in the background of the castle, but […]

Deep in the rich and wealthy city of Sainte-Adresse, next to the city of Le Havre, there are a few luxurious “villas” from yesteryear. Many of these mansions date back to the days that wealthy people came here for their holidays, people like the famous impressionist painter Claude Monet and the then famous French actress, […]

In a small 800 person village close to Lisieux is a castle that looks like a fairytale castle, the kind kids would draw. The village is called Saint-Germain-de -Livet, and the castle dates back to the 15th century.   The castle was donated to the city of Lisieux in 1957. It is now a museum and a landscaped […]

Montbard is a small city of some 5500 inhabitants, a river and a big canal flowing through it and an incredible abbey close-by. It also has a castle perched high on the hill overlooking the city.   The small city is dominated by a big hill, and on top of the hill, perched as high […]

Located in the midst of the Calvados region (Normandy) you will find a pretty castle, the Chateau du Breuil, that has been since 1954 a distillery that transforms apples into Calvados (an apple brandy). Located in a 1000 people village, Le Breuil-en-Auge, the castle lies on the road leading to Lisieux.   The castle was built […]

In a small village of some 150 inhabitants close to the city of Amiens you will find an amazingly beautiful castle, the Chateau de Courcelles sous Moyencourt. But what’s more, you will find the castle surrounded by unusual animals, unusual for France; LAMAS.   The castle has 100 windows and doors and is surrounded by land […]

The castle located close to the city of Lannion in Brittany, the Chateau de Kerduel, is in the Pleumeur-Bodou area.   The oldest part of the castle was built in the 12th century. Legend has it that King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table stayed here. In fact, the name of the castle, Kerduel, […]

Sometimes taking a wrong turn on the country roads brings you deep inland, and to some very surprising scenery. One of them, after having taken a wrong turn in Brittany was this amazing castle; the Chateau Kergrist.   Hidden away from big roads, this is a castle that merits a detour. Built in the 1400’s […]

Transport Getting There Air: There is no airport with flights from within France or Europe. Getting Around Le Mans Le Mans has a pretty good public transportation system with buses and trams. Visiting the old city is done on foot, but anything outside, particularly the circuit, you will need transportation. Restaurants As you would expect […]

The name Le Mans is famous amongst motorheads, petrolheads and adrenaline junkies the world over: home of the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans cars (and motorcycles) race. But Le Mans is much more than a mythical car race. It’s a very old city with its history dating back to 50 BC when the Romans took over […]

Hidden deep inside the countryside in Upper Normandy is the small village of Butot-Venesville. On the outskirts of the village you will find a very nice castle, the Chateau du Profil.   Not much information is available about the castle, just that it as built in 1850. The castle is a gite, meaning you can rent […]

The Cotes-d’Armor coastline around Perros-Guirec is rugged and made out of solid pink granite. This rocky surface made for great building materials for the construction of castles and fortresses. One of these castles can be found on an island a few meters off the coast; the Chateau de Costaeres. The castle is located on the […]

This little gem is located alongside a long and straight country road. After hours of research, I could not find any information about it. So I do not know when it was built and if it’s private (which I’m sure it is). It’s not even in the National Monuments Registry.   You can clearly see […]

The castle located at Varengeville sur Mer, close to the Normandy coast, was built in 1883.   The castle itself, though in private hands, can be rented for special occasions, like marriages or seminars. But please note, it’s not a hotel, so you can’t sleep there. Click on the web site link below to find […]