Paris1972-Versailles2003

In my latest road warrior trip, decided to pay a visit to Chateaubriand! Not his tomb done that, but his childhood home castle in Combourg between Rennes and Saint Malo in my lovely Bretagne. We left the dog back and went with the rest of Dad (brave men! )and boys. I wanted to visit this for a long time , but as always said eventually will see them all health willing. Let me tell you first about the town a bit and then the castle of Combourg. Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The town of Combourg has the reputation of the town is associated with the romantic writer François-René de Chateaubriand as well as with his castle Its nickname of “cradle of romanticism” is due to the writer who spent part of his youth at the castle, Combourg, dept 35 Ille-et-Vilaine in my lovely Bretagne. The castle/town is located 39 km from Rennes , 36 km from Saint Malo, 386 km from Paris, and about 162 km from my house.

The lordship of Combourg was created by the archbishop of Dol, Ginguéné or Junkéné, in favor of his younger brother Riwallon de Dol. The lordship of Combourg remained in the possession of the descendants of Riwallon until the death of Yseult de Dol in 1197, raising the name of his mother by becoming Jean III de Dol. It was then transmitted by inheritance to several families over the years, The ultimate heiress, Duchess of Duras, sold the county and its castle to the parents of Chateaubriand by contract of May 3, 1761. The rich Saint-Malo shipowner René-Auguste de Chateaubriand and his wife Apolline de Bedée, parents of the writer, acquired the county of Combourg, and settled there in May 1777 with their six surviving children (out of ten). Their youngest son François-René de Chateaubriand , then eight years old, spent twelve years of his youth there: “It was in the woods of Combourg that I became what I am,” he wrote. in his Memoirs from Beyond the Grave.

In September 1815, following the fall of the First Empire (Napoléon I), Combourg was occupied by the 6th corps of the Prussian army. During the Great War or WWI, the castle was transformed into a military hospital and it operated between September 1, 1914 and December 23, 1918. In addition, two annexes were installed: the first, avenue de la Gare, in the Maison Gallais (from June 1, 1916 to December 31, 1917) and the second at 1, rue de la Gare, The Nazis troops enter Combourg, undefended, June 18, 1940, On August 2, 1944, Combourg was liberated by American soldiers belonging to the CCA of the US 6th Armored Division.

Things to see in town, me think, Of course the Château de Combourg (see post), built in the 11C and 15C and remodeled in the 19C, François-René de Chateaubriand spent part of his childhood there and mentioned it in his Memoirs from Beyond the Grave. The Grand Trémaudan manor, founded by the Trémaudan family, whose main house dates from 1630 and parts date from the 15-16C, The Tour du Pendu (16C), which owes its name to a tragic legend. A 16C house , rue des Princes (same as the castle),a house from 1650 at 10 rue Notre-Dame, the former city/town hall from 1848 to 1906,House of the Templars (16C), located rue Chateaubriand, it originally depended on the commandery of the Temple of La Guerche and belonged to the order of the Templars.Relais des Princes (16C), a former post house that became an inn. Half-timbered house ; this post house was originally equipped with a reserve of four cars, the locality forming a road junction at the crossroads of the royal roads Fougères-Dinan and Saint-Malo – Rennes by Dol and Hédé. The Benevolent house, which welcomed the poor in the 19C; at the Place Chateaubriand of which all that remains of the Saint-Sébastien chapel is a statue of Saint Appoline in a niche of what is today the facade of the Hôtel du Lac. , The maison de la Lanterne, built in 1575 on the site of a fortified house. This house was also nicknamed Hôtel Trémaudan or Maison de la Tourelle. It was restored in 1968, The Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Parish Church, built between 1859 and 1887, Also found here is the lordship chapel and the tombstones of Count Geoffroy de Chateaubriand , and his second wife, Countess de la Rochetaillée . Count Geoffroy de Chateaubriand, grand-nephew of François-René de Chateaubriand, is the author of a statue of Saint Gilduin, part of whose relics are located under the author of this chapel.

The town of Combourg on its heritage: https://www.combourg.bzh/patrimoine/

The Saint Malo tourist office on Combourg :https://www.saint-malo-tourisme.co.uk/our-8-preserved-treasures/combourg-the-romantic-fortress/

The Ille et Vilaine dept 35 Tourist office on Combourg : https://www.ille-et-vilaine-tourism.com/discover-ille-et-vilaine/the-loveliest-places/combourg/

The Bretagne region tourist board on Combourg : https://www.brittanytourism.com/destinations/the-10-destinations/cap-frehel-saint-malo-mont-saint-michel-bay/combourg/

There you go folks, a wonderful place to visit, we went for the main the castle, however, it needs a return to look further into the town of Combourg, eventually. A fascinating story in my lovely Bretagne, Chateaubriand is it. Again, hope you enjoy the post as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!