Combourg Castle (France)

The construction of the fortress began in the 12th century to defend Dol Cathedral and the independence of Britain. The great writer and politician, François-René de Chateaubriand, spent his childhood there. Since then, the castle of Combourg is considered in French literature as the "cradle of romanticism". Completely restored in 1876, it still belongs to the descendant of the author.
Guided castle tours of 45 minutes (visits must be guided: 7 interior rooms plus tower walls).
Free park tours and Lake Tranquille tour (pets allowed in the park, leashed).
The park, designed by Denis Buhler in 1876, is inspired by Chateaubriand's descriptions of the exteriors of the castle in the Mémoires d'Outre Tombe. It covers 25 hectares and has trees several centuries old.