< Introducing Western France

The Best of Western France

Mont-St-Michel towering over the marshes

With a remarkably varied coastline and mild climate, Western France is not just celebrated for its beaches and seafaring traditions, but also for its spectacular Gothic cathedrals, Renaissance châteaux and gardens. There are no end of things to see and do: combine historical sights and dazzling art and architecture with picnics and afternoons by the sea.

Hungry for history

Children are fascinated by the medieval island abbey of Mont-St-Michel and the soaring Gothic majesty of the Chartres Cathedral and the stories of the Norman Conquest depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry that can be read like a cartoon strip. Along the Loire river, the Château Royal de Blois relates stories of kings and assassins, while the Château de Chenonceau offers the thrill of canoeing right under its majestic arches. In Rouen visit the Cathédrale Notre-Dame and the excellent Impressionist works in its Musée des Beaux Arts. For towns filled with art and history, head for Angers, Bourges, Le Mans, Saumur and Chinon. Fans of Asterix will not want to miss the megalithic sites around Carnac, while the fascinating spectacles and Cinéscénie at Grand Parc Puy du Fou make history fun for even the youngest child.

The great outdoors

Seaside marvels hold pride of place – from the dramatic cliff arch of Étretat to the wide sands of St-Jean-de-Monts, where older kids can learn to sand-yacht. In Finisterre, take a boat out to Île d’Ouessant, populated by the world’s smallest sheep. Renowned as the “Garden of France”, the Loire Valley boasts the Château de Villandry with spectacular gardens. The Terra Botanica, a botanical theme park in Angers, is superb for whetting kids’ appetites for the plant world. Everyone loves Monet’s house and gardens at Giverny. In Brittany, follow the trail of Merlin in the Forêt de Brocéliande.

The nymphéas, in the water garden at the Fondation Claude Monet, Giverny

In a week

Start with Chartres Cathedral before spending a couple of days around Tours, visiting the Loire châteaux. Children may especially like the Château de Clos Lucé at Amboise, where there are models of Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions; the Château de la Ferté, with its many fun activities; or the Château de Cheverny – “Tintin’s Château”. Follow this with two days by the beach in the beautiful corsair port of St-Malo. Stop for a day at Mont-St-Michel to visit the famous abbey in the bay before heading on to Bayeux, a great base for visiting the D-Day Beaches and its famous tapestry.

By season

By late spring, the gardens in Western France are in full glory – visit Giverny when the irises are in bloom. It is also a lovely time to explore arty destinations such as Gauguin’s Pont-Aven and Honfleur, with its museum of the Impressionists and the Maisons Satie, an offbeat look at composer Erik Satie.

In summer, there are moving commemorations on the D-Day Beaches, and the historical spectacles at the Grand Parc Puy du Fou are in full flow. A stroll on the mechanical elephant at Les Machines de l’Île, in Nantes, also makes for a fine outing.

Autumn is a time of apple and grape harvests, rich colours and the light beloved by artists in the Suisse Normande.

Winter is a great time to visit the cities and museums for a dose of culture, such as the Mémorial de Caen, Océanopolis in Brest or the museums in Bourges.

A medieval combat with knights on horses at the Grand Parc Puy du Fou