Hi. I'm finally getting close to finalizing our 2017 trip plans....thanks to all the input I've received. I'm thinking that when we get off the channel ferry, we will get a car and see Dinan. From there I was going to drive to Honfleur - we were there about 5 years ago and loved it, but now I'm thinking perhaps something new. I see Fougeres in a guide book, and it looks very fascinating. Has anyone visited there and do you recommend a stop? We have limited time so would need to pick only one. Thanks!
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7161 posts
How long of a stop are you talking about? Do you mean stopping on the way to somewhere? I spent a half-day in Fougeres a few years ago and I enjoyed it. I happened to luck out and be there on a market day and they have a great market. The castle is interesting and it's a nice town to wander around in. I wouldn't mind staying there for a night or two.
Posted by
OP
Santa Rosa, CA, USA
1446 posts
Thanks, Nancy. We could stay there or someplace close for one night. Then we are on our way to Rouen to return the rental car and head to Paris to finish the trip. So, you think a night there would be good?
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8981 posts
We stopped there long enough for lunch, a walk around town (there is a marked loop that goes through the gardens and back to the castle). I thought it was a very nice town and would have liked to visit the castle.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7161 posts
Sharon, it's certainly as good a place to spend a night as any other place near there. I'd spend a night there if it was convenient for my trip.
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
2088 posts
Last June I have visited Fougères and the castle is really impressive. I did not visit the castle itself, but you can walk around there for a few hours, to my opinion it’s worth at least a stop. Also lovely is Léhon, just south of Dinan.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7897 posts
Presumably, you've already been to MSM and Bayeux. We liked Vitré, but it does have some overlap with Dinan. Didn't have time for Madame Sevigny's mansion on the edge of town. It's a long drive to Honfleur.
Posted by
OP
Santa Rosa, CA, USA
1446 posts
This is a very tough decision. I've looked up Lehon and Vitre too and both sound great. We only have time for one. We will have spend most of our trip on Jersey but I want to see at least one town in Brittany - Rick says Dinan and we could see another too. We were planning to drop our car in Rouen and then take the train to Paris to finish out there - we love the art. Is Rouen really worth a stop or should we get our impressionist art fix in Paris? Thanks.
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
2088 posts
Have visited Rouen during the same trip as Fougères and to my opinion it is worth a visit too, but have no idea about museums. Have to say that with the many one-way streets this place is not easy to navigate, so it helps if you know the exact place where to drop-off the car and having an up-to-date GPS with you can be helpful too.
Have to say that I walked around with a lot of uneasy feelings in my heart as Rouen was seriously damaged during the last war. Even there still are a lot of nice mostly half timbered houses to enjoy, the scars left by the devastations are still clearly visible. I think otherwise Rouen would be without any doubt one of the most beautiful if not the most beautiful city of France, very pity.
In case there is no time for a visit to Rouen, easier to reach Beuvron-en-Auge just east of Caen can be some sort of alternative. You need to make a (little) detour, but the countryside is really lovely.