Places to visit near the Château
Le Mont St Michel
Mont St Michel is an island and mainland
commune in Normandy, France.
The island is located about one kilometre (0.6 miles) off the country's northwestern coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches and is 7 hectares (17 acres) in area. The mainland part of the commune is 393 hectares (971 acres) in area so that the total surface of the commune is 400 hectares (988 acres).
The island has held strategic fortifications since ancient times and since the 8th century AD has been the seat of the monastery from which it draws its name.
The Mont remained unconquered during the Hundred Years' War; a small garrison fended off a full attack by the English in 1433. The reverse benefits of its natural defence were not lost on Louis XI, who turned the Mont into a prison. Thereafter the abbey began to be used regularly as a jail during the Ancien Régime.
One of France's most recognizable landmarks, visited by more than 3 million people each year, the Mont Saint- Michel and its bay are on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Over 60 buildings within the commune are protected in France
St Malo
St-Malo was founded in the 1st century BC a short distance south of its current location. The fort at Aleth, in what is now St-Servan, was built by Celtic tribesmen to guard the entrance to the Rance River.
The rock of St-Malo was only connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway of sand and it was this natural defence that induced the population to move away from Aleth during the period of Viking raids. The solid ramparts
seen today were added by Bishop Jean de Chatillon in the 12th century.
The walled city had a long history of piracy, earning much wealth from local extortion and overseas adventures. In 1944, the Allies heavily bombarded Saint-Malo, mistaking it for a major enemy base. Today it is a popular tourist centre, with a ferry terminal serving Portsmouth, Weymouth, and Poole.
Fougères
The main reason to visit Fougères is to see its magnificent castle, one of the finest fortresses in Europe, but this little town on the Brittany-Normandy border also has a lovely medieval district and a lively Saturday-morning market.
St Susanne
Situated between Laval and Le Mans, Sainte-Suzanne is perched at a height of 70 meters above the Erve valley.
Known for having braved William the Conqueror, the medieval town has kept a rich patrimony from this time.
The origins of Sainte-Suzanne are older though. The Erves dolmen (the oldest monument of Mayenne) and recent archaeological excavation prouve that the site existed five or six centuries.
Rennes
Welcome to the capital! The capital of Brittany, that is. You’ll love the cheerful atmosphere of this forward-thinking region that’s switched on and full of creativity.
Want to know more about Rennes and the surrounding area? The focus is on youth and culture, but there’s also a series of fortified castles that formed the region’s line of defence in the past.
Only an hour and half from Paris by TGV, Rennes is the perfect place for a city break, with nature thrown in as a bonus.
CANCALE
Cancale lies along the coast to the east of Saint- Malo. It is a picturesque fishing port popular with visitors, many of whom are drawn by its reputation as the "oyster capital" of Brittany.
Though a small town, it is well served by a large number of restaurants, many specialising in seafood. When not eating one can sit and watch the bustle of this busy little town with many stalls selling crustaceans of all types.
The oyster market (marché aux huîtres) at the harbour at the end of Quai de l'Administrateur en Chef Thomas offers a wide variety of local oysters at producer prices. At low tide part of the vast oyster beds can visited.
