Page 77 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

ILLE-E T-VILAINE  75

The Château de Combourg, now inhabited by a descendant of Chateaubriand’s elder brother
containing a staircase. In + Château de la Bourbansais to the 11th century, was rebuilt
1776, the naval captain Jean and Zoo in the late Gothic style in the
Thomas de Lorgeril, who had Pleugueneuc. Tel (02) 99 69 40 07. 14th and 15th centuries.
prospered as a privateer, Open Apr–Sep: daily; Oct–Mar: In 1761, it was acquired by
acquired the manor, adding daily pm. 8 & Chateaubriand’s father, a rich
two wings to it. ∑ labourbansais.com shipowner from St-Malo. As a
About 12 km (8 miles) north child, Chateaubriand spent
of Tinténiac, towards Dinan, is much time here, as described
the Château de la Bourbansais, r Combourg in Mémoires d’Outre-Tombe.
built in the 16th century and Road map E2. * 4,843. £ Inside the castle, the writer’s
enlarged in the 18th. On the n Maison de la Lanterne, 23 Place desk, armchair and deathbed,
ground floor are 18th-century Albert-Parent; (02) 99 73 13 93. ( and a bust of him by David
furniture, Au busson tapestries Mon. _ Foire de l’Angevine, first Mon d’Angers, can be seen in the
and Oriental porcelain impor ted in Sep. ∑ tourisme-combourg.fr archive room. The rest of the
by the French East India interior was entirely restored
Company. The surround ing This town is closely asso ciated in 1875. The landscaped park
park contains a substantial zoo. with the French Romantic writer was designed by the Bühler
François René de Chateaubriand, brothers (see p65).
E Musée de l’Outil et des Métiers who lived in the Château de
Magasin à Grain, Quai de la Donac. Combourg, an imposing Environs
Tel (02) 99 23 09 30. Open Jul–Sep: building with pepperpot towers. The Château de Landal,
Tue–Sat, and Sun pm. & The castle, whose origins go back 15 km (9 miles) northeast of
Combourg, has an impressive
location, within ramparts. Two
François René de Chateaubriand of its corner towers date from
“It was in the woods around Combourg the 15th century. Before it was
that I became what I am,” stated acquired by Joseph de France,
Chateaubriand (1768–1848) in his in 1696, it belonged to some
Mémoires d’Outre-Tombe (Memoirs of the greatest Breton families.
from Beyond the Grave; 1830–41). It was left to ruin for over ten
Born in St-Malo, this great years and recent attempts to
Romantic writer spent periods of restore it have been abandoned.
time in the family castle. He later
studied in Dol-de-Bretagne, + Château de Combourg
Rennes, then Dinan, and Tel (02) 99 73 22 95. Open Apr–Jun &
regularly stayed with his sisters in Sep–Oct: Sun pm–Fri; Jul–Aug: daily.
Fougères until 1791. He came to Closed Nov–Mar. 8 obligatory. &
fame with Atala (1801). Le Génie du
Christianisme (The Genius of + Château de Landal
Christianity; 1802) established his 3 km (2 miles) north of Broualan,
reputation. The biographical Mémoires on the Aigles de Bretagne route.
are considered to be his masterpiece. François René de Chateaubriand Closed until further notice.

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