In the land of wizards and druids
Past huge wind turbines and fields full of poppies, we drove towards Chartres for the first stop of this wonderful trip. Chartres Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and could be visited straight after our arrival. It is clearly recognisable from a long way off. Those who stayed up a little longer in the evening had the chance to see the sound and light show «Chartres en lumières». On the way to Saint-Malo we stopped in the small town of Bayeux, which was spared the destruction of the Second World War and exudes historic flair in every alley. Bayeux is particularly famous for its embroidered tapestry, almost 70 metres long, which depicts William's conquest of England in 58 individual scenes.
The Musée du Débarquement could of course not be missing from a trip to France like this. We were given an exclusive guided tour in German and afterwards watched a short film that took us back to the events at Arromanches 75 years ago. Even today, some of the shipwrecks from D-Day can still be seen on the beach. We spent the following four nights in Saint-Malo. There were plenty of options for dinner, and anyone who wanted to stretch their legs after a generous meal could stroll along the city walls around the old town. The nightcap was then had in the beach bar with a dreamily beautiful view.
One highlight of the trip was the excursion to Mont Saint-Michel. Even during the drive you could catch glimpses of the abbey again and again. When we finally arrived, the island showed itself to us in all its glory. Brigitte, our tour guide, led us all the way to the top and explained the individual rooms of the abbey. It is a unique experience to be there and absolutely recommended. The fourth day of our trip was optional, and everyone could spend the day entirely according to their own preferences and needs. I decided on the excursion to Carnac, where the famous rows of standing stones are found. To this day it is unclear how the stones got there and what purpose they served. Afterwards we drove to the charming town of Vannes. I enjoyed a typical lunch in a local restaurant and strolled through the little souvenir shops.
The next day we continued to Dinan. On the way we stopped at the tidal power station and at Cap Fréhel. The cliffs are made of pink granite, the famous rose-coloured stone. The lighthouse made the picture perfect, and if you listened closely, you could even hear the chattering of the penguins. On arriving in Dinan, you could either spend the time on your own or join a short guided tour of the town. It was already our last evening in Saint-Malo, and the next day we drove to Blois in the Loire Valley. The imposing Château Royal de Blois welcomed us from afar. For more than four centuries, no fewer than 10 queens and 7 kings lived in this jewel of French architecture, and it houses architecture from four great eras. Equipped with an audio guide, we explored the differently furnished rooms and were able to stroll through the spacious castle.
But every trip comes to an end at some point, and so our driver Claudio Schoch brought us to our last stop in Beaune, where we once again had the chance to pick up our last souvenirs or stock up on regional delicacies.
