Sharing photos and stories from my travels.
The current standing Château de Fougères, located in the town of Fougères next to the Nançon River, was built during the late 1100s as a stronghold at the intersection of well traveled trade routes. (The original castle, built of wood rather then stone, was burned by Henry II, King of England, and later rebuilt). Located... Continue Reading →
We are enjoying our time in Normandie, and continue to find interesting destinations not far from our home here. A few weeks ago I wrote about the ancient stones in Carnac; it turns out there are a few similar sites less than an hour from our home. This one is called Dolmen de la Table... Continue Reading →
Saint-Suliac, located in Brittany, is one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, an official designation given to approximately 100 villages in France in order to promote tourism in small towns. This charming hamlet located along the Rance River is named for a Welsh Monk who lived here in the 6th century, and is well... Continue Reading →
When our friends from the US were visiting in May, we took a road trip to the Loire Valley and then to see the Carnac Stones in Brittany. The stones are quite an amazing site to see. They are spread over several kilometers and are often referred to as France’s Stonehenge. Numbering over 3,000 in... Continue Reading →
The Loire Valley has over 300 châteaux including some that are in excellent condition and still inhabited, to those that are ruins, but they are all interesting places to visit. The structures range in size and function; some were built as fortified fortresses, others were used as hunting lodges, and still more were built as... Continue Reading →
It has been an eventful week with visitors from the US, a trip to Caen to finalize our long-term stay visas, a jammed door, a backyard jam session, a thunderstorm, climbing around Roman ruins, a road trip to the Loire Valley, and loads of fun; whew! It started with the arrival of our dear friends,... Continue Reading →
Sainte Suzanne, located not far from the town of Mayenne in Normandie, has the distinction of being one of the few fortresses that William the Conqueror was unsuccessful in overtaking. He and his forces tried in vain for three years to take the town, and eventually gave up; you can read more about that here.... Continue Reading →
The expat life seems to conjure up images of tropical beaches, long lazy days of perfecting the art of idleness, open air markets where one can easily chat with the locals, and the ability to take off for a few days at a moment’s notice. In reality, being an expat brings many challenges. It’s an... Continue Reading →
Château de Domfront has a turbulent and interesting history that goes back many centuries. From what I was able to find out, it appears that the chateau was built by Henry I Beauclerc, and was standing in 1051 when it was assailed by William the Conquerer, Henry’s father. It passed through many hands during the... Continue Reading →
Travels Through My Lens 