Mail François Mitterrand, Pedestrian mall in central Rennes, France
The François-Mitterrand mall is a 700-meter pedestrian passage through central Rennes lined with Lebanese cedars and plane trees providing shade. The wide walkway features seating areas, restaurants with outdoor tables, and open spaces designed for walking and lingering.
The promenade was established in 1677 when the Duke of Chaulnes created it as a gathering place for parliamentary members, originally named the Mail des Champs Elysées. Over time it evolved from an elite retreat into a public space serving the broader community.
A weekly market arrives every Wednesday afternoon with regional producers selling fresh goods directly to shoppers. The gathering reflects how locals value direct connections with farmers and artisans from the surrounding countryside.
The walkway runs between Place de la République and Confluence Garden, with many restaurants offering outdoor seating for dining and relaxing. The flat route is easy to navigate on foot, and benches are scattered throughout for resting.
Much of the route is equipped with outdoor exercise equipment where visitors can work out at no cost, an unusual feature for what was historically a formal marketplace. The space also includes dedicated areas for palet Breton, a traditional local game that locals still play regularly.
Location: Rennes
GPS coordinates: 48.10940,-1.69030
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:44
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 like the 17th-century Parliament of Brittany, where visitors can explore rooms decorated with tapestries and painted ceilings. The museums in Rennes showcase different aspects of the region and art. The Museum of Brittany traces the development of the territory from Antiquity onward, while the Fine Arts Museum exhibits collections from the 14th to the 20th century. The FRAC Bretagne hosts contemporary art exhibitions. The Place of the Republic, with its Opera and Town Hall, constitutes the administrative and cultural heart. On Saturdays, the Marché des Lices brings together local producers and Breton specialties, providing an insight into local products.
Rennes offers photography locations from medieval streets to modern architecture. The city includes timber houses in rue de la Psalette, the rose garden at Parc du Thabor, and fortifications at Portes Mordelaises. Photographers find the Martenot market hall, the exhibits at FRAC Bretagne, and the market at Place des Lices.
Les Horizons
279 m
Condate Riedonum
519 m
Porte Mordelaise
505 m
City walls of Rennes
440 m
Église Saint-Étienne de Rennes
479 m
Le Mabilay
412 m
Tour du Chesne
426 m
Des baigneuses pas très académiques
481 m
Chapelle Saint-François
542 m
Croix de la Mission
418 m
Hôtel du Bouexic de Pinieuc
493 m
Hôtel Lagonidec
552 m
Pont de La Mission
448 m
Pont de Bretagne
385 m
Anciens bains de la Prévalaye
248 m
Écluse du Mail
339 m
Bureau d'octroi du Mail
512 m
Jardin Jean Guy
500 m
Maison, 11-13 quai de la Prévalaye
303 m
Maison de la Chouette
505 m
Pont Robert Schuman
403 m
Square Hyacinthe Lorette
410 m
Cité Judiciaire
526 m
Maison Novello
98 m
Maison des Filles de la Charité
554 m
Pont Malakoff
304 m
Quai d'Ille-et-Rance
335 m
Quai Saint-Cast
380 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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