Rennes, Regional capital in Brittany, France
Rennes is a regional capital in Brittany, France, where the Ille and Vilaine rivers meet and the town spreads over gentle hills. The northern part preserves medieval timber houses, while the southern section features classical stone buildings erected after a major fire in the 18th century.
The city began as Condate Redonum during Roman times and later became the seat of the Parliament of Brittany from 1551. This parliament played a central role in governing the region until the Revolution dissolved the old structures.
The old town fills with students and locals meeting in small bars and crêperies tucked between timber houses. The city has long served as a university center, and you can feel this energy on the streets after dark when groups of young people shape the nightlife.
An automated metro connects key points around town, while the central train station offers direct links to Paris in less than two hours. The center is easy to explore on foot, and many shops and restaurants sit along the narrow lanes around Place des Lices.
The Parliament building holds 60 wooden panels depicting the history of Brittany, restored after a fire damaged the structure in 1994. Another notable point is the weekly market at Place des Lices, considered one of the largest in France and operating since the 17th century.
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This collection brings together the 50 most populous cities of France, from the metropolis to overseas territories. It includes the major urban centers shaping the national territory, from Paris with its capital status to regional metropolises like Marseille with its Mediterranean port, Lyon where...
Rennes offers a range of historic and cultural sites that reflect its history and current vibrancy. The city features green spaces like the Thabor Park with its French-style gardens and rose garden, religious buildings such as the neoclassical 19th-century Cathedral, and institutional structures...
In Rennes and its surroundings, restaurants offer a wide variety of cuisines. You will find everything: small family-run bistros, fine dining places, and spots with nice wine cellars. The chefs use local and seasonal products to make their menus. Some focus on French tradition, while others explore...
The sports equipment and leisure venues in Rennes offer various activities. The city has equipped climbing centers, municipal swimming pools including the Art Deco Saint-Georges pool, an ice rink, virtual reality centers, and many game rooms. Sports enthusiasts will find tennis clubs, karting...
Parc du Thabor
805 m
Rennes railway station
1.4 km
Rennes Cathedral
331 m
Palace of the Parlement of Brittany
273 m
Le Liberté
864 m
Les Horizons
727 m
Les Champs Libres
1.1 km
Rennes City Hall
314 m
Rennes Opera house
350 m
Parc des Gayeulles
3.4 km
Couvent des Jacobins
128 m
Saint George Palace
568 m
Marché des Lices
278 m
Museum of Brittany
1.1 km
Théâtre National de Bretagne
920 m
Notre-Dame-en-Saint-Melaine
581 m
Basilique Saint-Sauveur de Rennes
273 m
Condate Riedonum
377 m
Saint-Georges swimming pool
479 m
Musée des beaux-arts de Rennes
681 m
Basilique Notre-Dame de Bonne Nouvelle de Rennes
90 m
Porte Mordelaise
378 m
École nationale supérieure agronomique de Rennes
1.9 km
Hôtel de Blossac
316 m
Tour de l'Éperon
992 m
Palais du Commerce
545 m
Espace des Sciences
1.1 km
Parc Hamelin Oberthür
1.6 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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