La Gautraie Chambres D Hotes

Why it is Famous :A 25-minute drive from Saint-James, the medieval fortress of Fougères, dating from the 12th century, is a place that has marked the history of Brittany over the centuries. Intended to preserve French and Norman incursions - which Normandy was at the time held by the kings of England - the fortress experienced countless sieges, in turn property of the Bretons, the Normans, annexed by France, finally taken over by the chouans… Today it is one of the largest medieval towns in Europe in its state of conservation. Its history begins in the 10th century when a simple wooden keep was erected on a rocky island in the middle of the marshes. In the 12th century, the English king Henri 2 Plantagenêt destroyed it to build a first stone fortress there. Constantly improved over the centuries until it became, around 1500, the fortress that we can admire today, with its 11 towers, its ditches, its walkways (…) is an example of medieval military architecture. Built according to the traditional pattern of medieval defenses with its 3 enclosures, the fortress extends over 2 hectares of rock, surrounded by marshes. It is a veritable edifice of war and power, designed to resist enemy attacks.

Area Information :The Plantagenêts route The Plantagenêts route which connects Mont Saint-Michel to Santiago de Compostela crosses Normandy, Ille et Vilaine, the two Sevres to join the Tours route at Aulnay de Saintonge. The first stage of this journey passes through Saint-James, a 22 km stage, estimated between 5 and 6 hours. First stage after Mont Saint-Michel, or last stage before the final goal, Saint-James has always welcomed walkers, eager to discuss and share their adventure.

Why visit :Welcoming walkers is part of the history of our guest house. For a long time, our guest rooms have accommodated walkers coming from or heading for Mont Saint-Michel, and those wishing to discover the Couesnon or the banks of the Beuvron. Our countryside has become in recent years, a favorite territory for cyclists. La Gautraie is a point of departure or junction between Normandy and Brittany, a place for exchanging lively adventures.