Rennes, capital of Brittany, a Metropolis of art and history, should not be missed by anyone wanting a better understanding of Breton reality, past and present. It expresses its strong cultural identity through one of its major buildings, the Palace of the Breton Parliament which underlies the history of Brittany at the same time as bearing witness to France’s exceptional 17th-century pictorial art.
Places to see
- The medieval town and its colourful timber-framed houses
- The 18th-century town and its two royal squares
- The Breton Parliament (17th century) and the town hall (18th century) by Gabriel
- Thabor and Oberthür parks (19th century)
- Place des Lices and its market (Saturdays)
- The “Champs Libres“ cultural centre (Musée de Bretagne, Espace des Sciences...)
- Musée des Beaux Arts (fine arts)
- The Rennes regional ecomuseum
- Saint-Yves chapel (15th century) and its exhibition on Rennes’ heritage
- Breton flavours: crêpes, bottled cider, seafood…
Getting there
- Direct high-speed-train station: 2 hrs from Paris
- Airport: Rennes Saint-Jacques (8 km from Rennes)
- Rennes underground (VAL): runs Monday to Saturday from 5.20 am to 12.40 am, on Sundays and public holidays from 7.30 am to 12.40 am
- RN (dual carriageways) 157, 137 and 12 (350 km from Paris)
- Bicycle hire (Vélos Clearchannel-Vilaine car park)
Cities to Visit in France