Rennes Old Town, Historic neighborhood in Rennes, France
The Centre historique de Rennes, also known as Vieux Rennes, is a historic neighborhood in the heart of Rennes, in Brittany, France. It is made up of a network of narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses, several public squares, and remnants of old city walls including the Portes Mordelaises.
The earliest settlers built their town north of the Vilaine river, at the meeting point of two waterways, and called it Condate. A fire in December 1720 destroyed close to 850 buildings, after which the city was rebuilt with wider streets and stone facades replacing much of the older timber construction.
The Saturday market at Place des Lices is one of the largest markets in the region, drawing locals every week for fresh produce, flowers, and regional goods. The cafes and terraces around the square fill up before and after the market, giving a clear sense of how people use this part of the city.
The neighborhood is best explored on foot, as many of its streets are narrow and closed to through traffic. Several metro stations and bus stops are close by, making it easy to reach from other parts of the city.
Rennes has more than 280 half-timbered houses, which makes it one of the most concentrated examples of this type of construction in France. Many of them have stone street facades hiding the timber frame behind, which only becomes visible when you look into the courtyards or side passages.
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