Just over the Brittany border in Normandy Mont Saint Michel is a village in itself, brimming with cafes, bars and superb craft shops.

Mont Saint Michel must be the 8th wonder of the world.....The views are magnificent both within the ramparts and from out into the bay.  

In the 11th century, there was once a small chapel, built on top of a rock, that had already become a major place of pilgrimage. Over the centuries, the small chapel grew to become a magnificent abbey, commonly known as the 'Merveille' or 'Wonder', with its glorious Gothic buildings. Within the abbey are the Cellier (storeroom), the Salle des Chevaliers (knights' hall), the Refectoire (refectory), the Aumônerie (chaplaincy), and the Salle des Hôtes (guests' hall), all of which have welcomed Saint Louis, Louis XI, and Francois I. A cloister with beautifully carved columns seems to be suspended between sky and sea.

Mont Saint Michel Bay has the highest tides in Europe.  As the tide ebbs the sea reveals one of the largest areas of mussel growing and oyster farming in France upon thousands of wooden stakes.  Covering about 14 miles is the Duchess Anne Dike providing a view over the ever changing landscapes and multitude of species of birds and wildlife.

With it's half timbered house and gothic styles, cobbled streets and mansions Dol-de-Bretagne is a must.  The Grande Rue des Stuarts is the main shopping area.  Market day is Saturday.  Plenty of places to dine during the day and evening.

The Cathedral of Saint Samson in Dol de Bretagne  includes a mixture of build styles running from Romanesque to Gothic.  Dol de Bretange became one of Brittany's first bishoprics in the 6th Century.  The Cathedraloscope that opened in 1999 makes the town even more attractive as it is the first discovery centre dedicated to Cathedrals.

The Chateau De Landal in Broualan was restored in the 19th Century.  It's moats and wooded avenues are home to 'The Eagles of Brittany', here they are being reared and exhibitions are open every day from April to November.

http://www.bonnefontaine.com/ 

Lying along the Couesnon river, at the frontier between Britanny and Normandy, Bonnefontaine is a fortified castle build by Duchess Anne de Bretagne's chancellor.

Erected at the end of the XVIth century, it was modified during the times. 

In the XIXth century, it was fitted out in the medieval style by the Viscount of Guiton, who was the descendant of a defender knight of the Mont Saint Michel.

Bonnefontaine is dedicated to Saint Michel, who's granite statue stands on the top of the North tower.

Off the main D155 just follow the signs for Port Minature in the forest centre and you will come across plenty of good parking.  A stroll to the lake unfolds a busy little cafe and there's boat & pedalo hire, even a ride on a mini Brittany Ferry for the kids.  There are plentiful easy going marked walks through this forest

Until the 30's walking through the forest you would stumbled across huts that belonged to numerous clog makers and charcoal burners.  Walking through today brings the splendor and beauty of a forest with beech and oak trees reaching to the skies.  Extending to over 1000 hectares the forest is crossed by many footpaths, bridle paths and cycle ways and fed by Villecartier Lake.  Anglers will find Carp, Tench and other freshwater fish in the lake at Ruffien.

Market day is Monday.  Truly a super place to visit.  A thriving town both during day and evening with plenty of bars and restaurants, beatiful chateau and lake.

To defend his lands, Archbishop Guinguené of Dol had the first fortress built on a small spur of rock overlooking Lac Tranquille in 1016. Later, the fortress passed to the dynasties of Dol-Combourg, Combourg-Soliné, Châteaugiron, Acigné and Coëtquen then to the Maréchal de Duras. The best-known of all those who resided within this mysterious building was undoubtedly the great Romantic writer, François-René de Chateaubriand, «Dungeons and keeps, a labyrinth of covered and open galleries, underground passages walled up so that their ramifications remained unknown; and everywhere, silence, darkness and a face of stone. This is the Château de Combourg.»

Vitré is arguably the French town which has best preserved its medieval appearance. It still has its old wooden porches with rough carvings, its slate houses with gables overlooking the streets, its narrow, strangely-built windows, depending on the whims or requirements of the new owners, its long streets and its heavy doors decorated with quotations from the Bible. Vitré is the town of the Rohans and La Trémoilles, the cradle of the Reformation in Brittany.» (Gérard de Nerval).

This sample of Vitré's 15th, 16th, and 17th-century houses shows the diversity and wealth of the town's architecture. The carved, painted decoration is particularly ornate and completed by lead finials, a technique in which the people of Vitré excelled. In order to have adequate living space in a town where land was scarce, the upper storeys were built out over the ground floors. Most houses consisted of stone-built side walls and timbered frontages. The timbering was whitened on more modest dwellings and painted on others, using red or yellow ochre, blues and greens. The town of Vitré was light and airy, as well as being vividly coloured

Overlooking a vast green countryside Fougeres has retained all of the grandeur of it's glorious past.

The Chateau is open every day through mid June to mid September and at various times during the year.  Built between the 12th and 15th Century it was an outpost of medieval Brittany and even one of the biggest and best preserved fortifications in Europe.

Fougeres old town still contains wooden buildings and hosted thousands of workers who crafted shoes.  The shoe industry is returning specialising in top of the range items.

St Malo http://www.ville-saint-malo.fr/

Ideal for your hypermarket shopping - just on the approach to St Malo at Saint Jouan there is a Cora Hypermarket and garden centre.  Inside St Malo you'll find plenty of larger stores.

Between the River Rance and Mont Saint-Michel Bay, bordered to the south by the Dol Marshes, lies the area known as Le Clos-Poulet. Saint-Malo, its historical centre, looks out to sea. 

The old walled town built on a rock seems to be striding majestically into the waves.

Concealed behind the walls is an outstanding town, filled with places to visit. The coastline bristles with forts; it is also dotted with beautiful sandy beaches. In days gone by, privateering ships used to tie up alongside here, to offload their booty. The maritime hustle and bustle of this harbour town has always attracted merchants, navigators and adventurers of all kinds who set off from its quaysides on voyages far across the ocean lasting many long months.

The massive, imposing ramparts encircling the town escaped damage during the Second World War. Several gates, such as the Porte de Saint-Pierre which leads to Bon Secours beach, and the machicolated Grande-Porte, give access to Saint-Malo 'intra-muros' (the part of the town 'within the walls'). Off the coast lies Grand Bé island, where Chateaubriand is buried. Within the castle is a large keep which houses the town's local history museum, and the Quic-en-Grogne tower, in which is a waxworks museum. To the west stands the cathedral of Saint Vincent, whose brilliantly-coloured stained glass windows are the work of Jean Le Moal

It's big and it's bustling, suddenly you will come across traffic that during your stay you have not yet been used to.  Head directly for Rennes centre and park, good informative maps can be sourced from the Tourist Information Centres which are signposted.

It was the absence of building stone and the presence of numerous forests around Rennes which led to the tradition of timbered housing, especially during the Middle Ages. In the 17th century, many houses and mansions were built with a combination of stone and timbering around Place des Lices. The half-timbered residences are all the more remarkable because they are based on the region's traditional architecture. However, on 23rd December 1720, fire took hold of the the town centre and the houses blazed. Eight hundred and forty-five timbered houses were damaged or destroyed. Part of the town's architectural heritage disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Despite this, the city still has many reminders of the mediaeval period, especially in Rue Saint-Michel, Rue Saint-Georges or Place du Champ-Jacquet

This ancient fishing port is a hive of activity.  Overflowing with Oysters and Mussels the cafes are teeming with custom.  Cancale is a superb place to visit because it has so much to offer, it's fabulous cuisine comes from the fish caught in the bay and the walks are splendid giving panoramic views over the coastline.

Cancale was founded in the 6th century, and was originally a haven for pirates before becoming a base for the 'terra-nuevas', those sailors who thought nothing of braving the elements to go fishing for cod in the North Atlantic on the Newfoundland ('Terra Nueva') Banks. Today, Cancale is most famous for its oysters, but the port of La Houle, set back against the cliffs, is still home to several fishing boats. Rising above the shore, the 'Sentier des Douaniers' (the Customs Officers' Path - an old smugglers' trail) provides magnificent views right over to the Pointe du Groin 7 km away and beyond.

Saint Coulomb, a little west of Cancale, has one of the most beautiful beaches in Brittany, Les Chevrets cove.  Here you can also tour the ship-owners homes.

Explore on foot..........Between St Malo and Cancale there is a coastline hugging walk through heathland, beaches and rocks that ends with a magnificent view over the Emerald Coast at the semaphore signal at Pointe du Grouin.

Dinard owes its growth to a few British VIP's who launched the resort during the 19th century. Today, the local architecture is the best reminder of this Golden Age. It is an unconventional, eccentric blend of styles and building materials, reflecting the carefree, cosmopolitan attitude of days gone by. The beaches and small creeks nearby are ideal for swimming and walking

Below you'll find listings of Parks and other attractions for kids and links to other good websites providing details:

http://www.ville-pontorson.fr/english/parcs.htm

8 Hectares including a zoo, water slides, nature museum.  Situated at Quebriac, 4 km from Tinteniac and about 5 km from Combourg

http://www.labourbansais.com/

Just off the N137 St Malo/Rennes.

The Chateau here and the French gardens are classified Historical Monuments. One of the finest packs of hunting dogs are shown 3 times per day (April to September).  La Bourbansais also features a zoo.

http://www.cobac-parc.fr/

Near Combourg (Between Lanhelin and Tournebride)

Lots of things for the kiddies to do here, rides, bouncy castles, and a water park

La Ville Jouan, Avenue du General-Patton.  Tel:  02 99 21 19 00 http://www.aquarium-st-malo.com/

Discover a magnificent collection of fish and sea life.  The highlights are; the sharks ring, srunken wreck, tropical room, outdoor touchpool and nautibus - an unforgettable dive in the deep.

• Archery at Saint-Servan. Tel. 33 (0)2 99 81 18 85.

• Combourg ~ antique shops
• St-Meloir traditional village
• Dinan craft shops

• Cancale:  Port-Mer, Port-Pican, Port Briac, Verger, La Touesse, Du-Guesclin
• Saint-Lunaire: Fosse Aux Vaults, Longchamps, Grand Plage, Port-Blanc.
• Saint Briac: Salinette, Dame Jouanne

• La Chateau Bonnefontaine ~ near Antrain
• Chateau de Chateaubriand ~ Combourg
• Chateau de Landal ~ Dol de Bretagne
• Chateau at Fougeres
• Solidor Tower and museum at Saint Malo
• Chateau and museum at Dinan

• Parc Floral; 00 33 2 99 95 48 32

• Château des Ormes Golf Club at Dol de Bretagne (18 holes + 5 holes par 3, practice, lessons, courses, Club House, rooms,  swimming pools). Tel. 33 (0)2 99 73 49 60.

• Saint-Malo "Le Tronchet" Golf Club (27 holes on the forest edge). Tel. 33 (0)2 99 58 96 69.

• Ferme Equestre de Riskop: 00 33 2 99 80 21 25

• Aux Amis du Cheval: 00 33 2 99 89 16 87

• La Cravache - The small valley (petite Vallée) at St-Coulomb - Tel. 33 (0)2 99 81 65 03

• The Perrières stables (Ecuries des Perrières) - rue d'Aleth à La Ville-es-Nonais. Tel. 33 (0)2 99 58 38 00.

• Karting, at the Karting at Nielles à Saint-Méloir des Ondes. Tel. 33 (0)2 99 89 16 88.

• Dol-de-Bretagne: Mehir of Champ Dolent
• Fougeres 

• Microlighting and and other air born activities at the Aéro-club of Dinard/Pleurtuit. Tel. 33 (0)2 99 46 70 28.

• Avranches Aerodrome

• Dol-de-Bretagne ~ Saint Samson Cathedral
• Mont Saint Michel Abbey

•  Dol-de-Bretagne Tourist Info 00 33 2 99 48 15 37

• Swimming at the olympic size swimming pool at Terre Plein du Naye. Open all year round - Tel. 33 (0)2 99 81 61 98.

• Saint-Suliac Sailing School, "Ecole de Voile" 00 33 2 99 58 48 80
• Sailing trips on a skipper at Cancale 00 33 2 99 89 77 87
• Cruises on Le Renard at St Malo 00 33 2 99 40 53 10
• On the Ille-et-Rance or the River Rance at Dinan 00 33 2 96 39 18 04

•   The Nautical Society of the Bay of Saint-Malo (SNBSM)
  This is located at the Bon Secours beach, it is the top centre of the Emerald Coast with fifty units available. It offers dinghy, optimist, and catamaran discovery or beginners courses.
  Contact : Jean-Claude Varrin - Tel. 33 (0)2 99 40 11 45.

• The Rothéneuf Sailing Circle
  At the Havre (small port) of Rothéneuf, a sailing area which is protected from the prevailing winds, the CNR gives training courses in dinghy sailing, windsurfing and sea skiffs for all the family and in total safety.
  Contact : Christian Martin - Cale du Havre - Tel. 33 (0)2 99 56 16 33.

• Surfing School
  This regional training centre, on the Sillon beach, gives you all the advantages of surfing : Windsurfing, sand yachting, Speedsail, Surf and Bodysurf, Surfing School, etc.
  Contact : Pascal Sommier - 2 avenue de la Hoguette - Tel. 33 (0)2 99 40 07 47.

• At Cherrueix , Noroit Club 00 33 2 99 48 83 01

• Bay of Mont Saint Michel ~ shellfish
• Dinard ~ deep sea fishing
• Saint-Malo ~ shellfish
• Lake at Ruffien (200 metres walk from Villecartier lake) ~ Freshwater fishing

• (20 indoor and outdoor courts). Tel. 33 (0)2 99 56 64 48.

• Cancale to St Malo
• The Villecartier Forest
• Mont Saint Michel Bay

USEFUL LINKS

USEFUL NUMBERS

• Tourist Office Mont Saint Michel: +33 2 33 60 14 14 

• Mont Saint Michel Bay Maritime Museum: +33 2 33 60 14 09

• Guided Tour of Mont Saint Michel Bay:  +33 2 99 48 84 38

• Cancale Tourist Office:  00 33 2 99 89 63 72

• Combourg Tourist Office:  00 33 2 99 73 13 93

• Dol de Bretagne Tourist Office:  00 33 2 99 48 15 37 

• Fougeres Tourist Office:  00 33 2 99 94 12 20

• Brittany Tourism  http://www.brittanytourism.com/

OTHER INFORMATION

• Chateau de Landal:  00 33 2 99 80 10 15  

• Roza Parc at Roz-Sur-Couesnon:  00 33 2 99 80 28 47  

• Saint-Meloir Craft Village:  00 33 2 99 89 18 10/ 00 33 2 99 89 23 28

• Mont Dol Guide:  00 33 2 99 79 35 35  

• Fougeres: The Chateau 00 33 2 99 99 79 59

• Shoe Factories: 0033 2 99 94 49 36/00 33 2 99 94 12 20

• Parc Floral; 00 33 2 99 95 48 32