A Visual Journey Through Sainte Suzanne’s Enchanting Streets
After visiting Monet’s Garden, our next destination was Sainte-Suzanne, a pretty medieval village we discovered in a book we bought before our trip entitled “The Most Beautiful Villages of France. We look forward to visiting as many as possible over the coming years.
Sainte-Suzanne is in the picturesque region of Pays de la Loire in France. It is a village steeped in history and natural beauty.
As we drove up towards the village from the bottom of the road, our attention was immediately drawn to the imposing silhouette of the medieval castle, perched majestically on a rocky promontory, dominating the village’s skyline.
We arrived late in the day, so we stayed the night a short distance from the village, just a few hundred yards in a Motorhome Aire. Visiting the village first thing, then the following day, was ideal. Aire Details: 11.60 euros/24 hr. Address: 15, rue du Camp des Anglais, 53270 Sainte-Suzanne. GPS: 48.09935 – -0.35043 (Part of the Camping-Car Park) The Aire had a car park adjacent, which was ideal for parking our tow car for the night.
We enjoyed a walk around the village’s pretty cobbled streets lined with charming half-timbered buildings, each one seemingly frozen in time. The irregular angles and warm, weathered wood tell stories of centuries gone by. We next reached the well-maintained ramparts encircling the village. These fortifications offered not only a sense of the village’s defensive past but also the breathtaking views of the countryside.
The castle underwent meticulous restoration, now featuring added metal stairs for convenient access to its highest points. Informative panels at every level vividly illustrate the castle’s original appearance. The view from the top is breathtaking! You can also admire the ancient drawbridge tower and gate from the exterior. Best of all, entrance to the castle is free.
Apart from the castle in Sainte-Suzanne, it was a pleasure to stroll around looking at the buildings, enjoying the views across the countryside, soaking up the atmosphere, and, of course, pausing at a cafe for morning coffee added to this enjoyable visit.
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