Fougères, land of builders

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"At this time, I am in the region of ferns, in a town which all painters should religiously visit.I have seen it in the sunlight, I have seen it in the twilight, I have seen it again in the moonlight and I never tire of it, it's wonderful"
Victor Hugo

In the heart of the towns and villages around Fougères, traditions withstand the passing of time. The very roots of this region's soul are plunged deep in the stones of its old houses and castles, in the reflection of its lakes, along its trails and in the ancient memory of its forests, of which Fougères' national forestland is one example. Here, in the vast expanses of beech trees, pines and spruces, you can breathe in the legends and the mysteries of trees and stones. men have been inscribing their history in this land of wood and water, granite and quartz for more than five thousand years.

Fougères was founded somewhere around the year 1000 on a rocky outcrop in a basin between marshland and the River Nançon, and today, its history can still be seen blazing out via its monuments, architecture and traditions. Lawrence of Arabia wrote, when he visited the castle in 1907, "There is nothing that has a more beautiful exterior, of that I am certain". The town is renowned for a number of specialities, from glassmaking to shoes and drapery and its industrial activities have found their place next to its age-old tradition of craftwork.

Very beautiful views can be enjoyed on the road along the Couesnon and you will also discover a number of mills, the remaining vestiges of the old system that once ran along the river. At Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier stands the fortress which is a permanent reminder of the defeat of Brittany on 28th July 1488, when the Breton army was completely devastated by the Royalist army.

Further to the north, you will find Louvigné-du-Désert, which has long boasted of being the capital of granite and still has a number of working quarries.

Places to explore 

Come and see Bazouges-la-Pérouse, the Artist village, and the nineteenth century Château de Ballue. Take a stroll in the Villecartier forest, the Parc Floral du Chatêllier (floral gardens) or along the paths and alleys of Château de Bonnefontaine at Antrain-sur-Couesnon. Events are organised throughout the year, such as the Festival des Voix de Pays (Voices of the Region Festival) in the Château de Fougères at the beginning of July, the Flambées Musicales in February and the Salon du Livre Jeunesse (Youth Literature fair) during the last weekend of November. Come and listen to the tales of Saut Rolland at Dompierre-du-Chemin, where throughout the summer, storytellers and musicians will take you on a rather special kind of walk. The natural surroundings are also conducive to leisure activities such as rock climbing and hiking, especially in the Coglais area. So, as you can see, the region around Fougères has a lot of surprises in store.