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A week in Brittany
A week in Brittany on the castle trail: our 7-stop itinerary
From Ille-et-Vilaine to Morbihan, via the Côtes-d’Armor and Finistère: seven castles, seven days, one road trip to explore Brittany differently, between medieval fortresses, a literary residence, outstanding gardens and a seaside château.
Editorial journal · Carte des Châteaux ·
Spend a week on the roads of Brittany, with seven castles as your guide: this itinerary is designed to take you from the north-east to the south-west, from Vitré to Josselin, crossing four departments without ever imposing lengthy journeys. The route blends feudal fortresses, a writer’s residence, a château perched on a rocky headland, domains with outstanding gardens and a Renaissance gem — the perfect way to discover several facets of Brittany’s heritage in a single week, without limiting yourself to the usual highlights. As opening times and practical information are subject to change, always check the official website of each site before setting off.
One week, four departments, one common thread
Seven castles, seven days: this route takes you across Brittany from the north-east to the south-west, from Vitré to Josselin, with maximum driving time between stops kept to a minimum. Each stage changes tone — fortress, literary residence, seaside château, outstanding gardens, Renaissance gem — to showcase several facets of Brittany’s heritage in a single week.
Josselin, the grand finale
The final stop on the journey, the Château de Josselin encapsulates the diversity of the route: three massive feudal towers on the river side, a finely sculpted granite façade on the courtyard side, a testament to the early days of Breton Renaissance. Still inhabited by the Rohan family, it brings the trip to a close on a note that is both medieval and refined.
An itinerary designed to avoid exhausting yourself on the road
No leg of this route requires more than an hour and a half’s drive from the previous stop — with the exception of the final link, between central Finistère and Morbihan, which is longer but necessary to bring the journey to a coherent close. This allows you to fully enjoy each site without spending the week in the car.
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The route on the map
7 days on the trail of Brittany’s castles
The route proposed in this feature, from Vitré to Josselin.
Markers follow the suggested visiting order. Select a castle to open its page.
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Day by day
The itinerary
Day 1 — Château de Vitré
A 11th-century medieval fortress to enter Brittany, with a museum spread across several towers and a half-timbered town to explore nearby.
Day 2 — Château de Combourg
The childhood home of Chateaubriand, by its pond, for a more intimate stop in the cradle of Breton Romanticism.
Day 3 — Fort la Latte
A 14th-century fortress perched on a rocky outcrop facing Cap Fréhel, to be combined with a coastal walk.
Day 4 — Château de la Roche-Jagu
A 15th-century fortress overlooking the Trieux estuary, surrounded by a park labelled a Remarkable Garden.
Day 5 — Château de Kerjean
One of Brittany’s finest examples of Renaissance architecture, protected by an imposing fortified enclosure.
Day 6 — Domaine de Trévarez
A Belle Époque château currently undergoing restoration, surrounded by an 85-hectare park labelled a Remarkable Garden.
Day 7 — Château de Josselin
The final stop, between massive feudal towers and a finely sculpted granite façade, the residence of the Rohan family since the 14th century.