The temptation to commence the day with a large and fairly elaborate breakfast on the terrace is omnipresent as the street markets – Tours has a famous one on a daily basis – and indeed the local supermarkets will tempt you with a myriad of delicacies. But assuming you are now replete with some regional charcuterie and a few goats’ cheese and fruit, it might be time for a reasonably healthy walk along the turrets of the Château des ducs de Bretagne.
The Loire Valley is dominated by various Chateaux, and over 100 of these former pleasure palaces for the aristocracy are open to the public. The Château des ducs de Bretagne is within 50 kilometres of the Château de Bois Giraud and is worth visiting for its views of Nantes alone. It is the former home of the Dukes of Brittany and the buildings were constructed between the 15th and 17th centuries, its sheer scale reflects its original role as a symbol of Breton independence and power.
