Fougères, France 🇫🇷 2023

Date: 19th June 2023

Travelled: 95 kms from Saint-Suliac to Fougères  

Visited: Fougères

Stayed: Fougères Aire CC. €4, N48.35520, W01.21110  

Budget: 28 days @ €99 per day

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The drive to Fougères was slow and steady, Pam made sure I kept to the right through the myriad of round-a-bouts that make driving in France so interesting. The trucks are all speed limited to 90 kph so the Hymer was happy to do the same.

Why Fougères, well our friends Jenny and Ewout visited the castle here a couple of months ago and it looked very interesting, so I planted a pin in Google Maps and here we are.

First things first we find a laundromat or a French version (Lave Revolution) as its been a while, while the washing looking after itself we found the Lidl our favourite supermarket.

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Fougères, Fougères-Vitré, Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, Metropolitan France, 35300, France

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With the Hymer full of fresh clean cloths and the fridge full once again, we drive around to the aire de CC near the castle we pay our €4 overnight parking fee (with services). Why is France so popular as an motorhome touring destination ? Our most expensive overnight in England £53. Beer at the Lidl here in France €0.48p beer at the same supermarket in England £2, Pam’s favourite SB here €2.99, England £5.

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Fougères lies in the northeastern corner of Brittany, near the regions of both Normandy and the Loire. Its history goes back to the Lords of Forgères building a timber fortress here a thousand years ago. The current castle started being developed on the same site in the year 1,100, this continued for almost 500 years. Standing on one side of a deep ravine, the new town on the opposite of the ridge, the old town and its half timber house below the castle in the ravine itself.

We walk up the the entrance and pay our €9 pp (also a bargain compared to England and the National Trust) get an audio guide and start our visit.

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The castle gardens and open space within the walls are two hectares in area. The audio guides is very informative and interactive with the varied visual displays through the towers.

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From the castle walls we get a good look at the Église Saint-Sulpice de Fougères (circa 15th century) our next stop.

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After visiting the church we wander back to the Hymer for lunch and some R+R.

In the late afternoon we set off to explore the new town.

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Behind the church we find a path that wanders down into the ravine. It provides some excellent views of the castle and a terraced formal garden.

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We find some lovely half timber houses in the old town as we find our way back to the Hymer.

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So that’s it Fougères done as best we can. Returning to the aire we find the parking area full of motorhomes. We have a drink and talk about our day…

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Michael + Pam