Bruce Castle 

If you're going to Normandy, I cannot recommend the Bruce Castle highly enough. Brix is a small, beautiful Norman town, which looks like it was lifted straight from a fairy tale. The historic connection to the Bruce family is still strong--the main square is called Place Robert Bruce--and it's home to the Bruce Castle: both ancient ruins of an 11th century fortress and a modern B&B in the style of an 18th century manor house. The castle itself is gorgeous. The bedrooms are done in the authentic 18th century style, and the entire manor is decorated with beautiful, classic European art. What blew me away most of all is the incredible library that doubles as the sitting room. There you can find shelves upon shelves of old, beautiful books (in French, of course), Catholic art and iconography, and a wonderful view of the front garden. I don't know what it feels like to be nobility, but I'd bet the Bruce Castle is as close as anyone can get without obtaining land and titles. The Fontanets, who operate the B&B, are truly wonderful hosts and will do anything to make your stay amazing. And when I say anything, I mean it. As soon as we got in, they brought us tea with delicious cookies and sweets. They gave us a lot of help on where we could find food, a local pub, and even the closest restaurant (though unfortunately we didn't have a car to drive there). My wife and I pray a nightly rosary, and when we couldn't get into the town church to pray there, M. Fontanet, who happens to be a deacon, let us pray in his personal chapel. That was one of the best rosaries of my life. Finally, when we we're having trouble getting a taxi to the train station, M. Fontanet drove us himself. I truly can't believe how kind and generous the Fontanets are--they're certainly the best hosts my wife and I had anywhere in Europe on our honeymoon. Mme. Fontanet speaks good English, but I still wish I spoke more French. I really would have liked to have a longer conversation with both of them, learn how they acquired the property, and what brought them to Brix. M. and Mme. Fontanet: if you are reading this, thank you so much for taking such good care of Ashley and I. Thank you for letting us pray in your chapel. We will always remember your kindness to us. My only regrets are first, that I didn't have more French to chat with the Fontanets and the townspeople, and second, that we could only stay for one night. God Bless the Fontanets and all of Brix! Adam L. Bruce