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Rennes was one of the first French cities to receive French Tech accreditation, in November 2014. Moreover, Rennes has the third highest public research potential in the digital and ICT sectors in France, after Paris and Grenoble, with 3,000 people working in 10 laboratories, including the well-known IRISA, IETR, IRMAR, DGA-MI (cyberdefense), and SATIE.
History of France. Rennes, France, is the administrative capital of the French department of Ille-et-Vilaine. Before the French Revolution, prior to the integration of the Duchy of Brittany into the Kingdom of France, Rennes was the capital of the duchy, with the other historical capitals of Brittany's Ducal period being Nantes and Vannes.
Rennes is a major administrative centre and is home to the regional headquarters of many firms and organizations in Brittany and western France. Industrial activity is diversified and includes automotive assembly, food processing, printing, and the manufacture of automotive components and electronics. Pop. (1999) 206,229; (2014 est.) 213,454.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Visit The Parlement de Bretagne
- Shop at Le Cour Des Lices
- Go Inside Cathedral Saint Pierre
- Visit Musée Des Beaux-Arts
- Enjoy Parc Du Thabor
- Try Some Pommeau de Bretagne AOC
- Have Crêpes and Cider For Dinner
- How to Get to Rennes, France?
- How Many Days Should You Stay?
- Where to Stay?
The seat of the Breton Parliament was established in 1485 under the Duchy of Brittany, and continued after Brittany became a part of France. The Kings of France and their descendants reluctantly let Bretagne continue to maintain its own parliament (under the agreement insisted upon Anne). It was spared in the great fire of 1720 (when almost the ent...
The heart of the city, this large square holds many restaurants and bars. But probably one of my favorite things to do in Rennes is to visit one of the biggest producers’ market in France, the Marché des Lices. The first market was held here in 1453, and it has been a gathering point ever since. At one point in time, even executions took place here...
The earliest church on this site was in the 6th century, replaced by a gothic cathedral that has been continually under construction and renovation since the 12th century. Interestingly, it is here that on December 25, 1483, the future Henry VII of England, then in exile in Brittany, promises to marry Elisabeth of York, daughter of the previous Kin...
A stunning fine arts museum on Quai Emile Zola that was established in 1794 to hold artwork confiscated from nobles, government buildings, and churches in the area. It holds many rare works, including drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Donatello, and Picasso. There are also several archaeological bronzes, ceramics and sculptures from the Eg...
A beautiful park combining the classical French and English garden styles with a cave, basins, and a rose gardenwith more than 2,000 varieties of roses. It used to be the former garden of the monks of Saint-Melaine Benedictine Abbey and was redesigned as a public park in the 19th century. About 10 hectares in size, there are French-style gardens, a...
This alcoholic aperitif(17% vol.) is Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (meaning it is specific to this region), is made from two-thirds unfermented apple juice and one-third cider brandy. It is aged in oak casks for at least 14 months and is absolutely delicious. You can read more about foods to eat and drink in Brittanyhere.
You cannot visit this part of Brittany and not indulge in some Breton crêpesand wash it down with a mug of cider. There are two types of crêpes, savory and sweet. Savory crêpes are filled with toppings similar to a pizza: ham, cheese, spinach, etc. depending on what you prefer. Sweet crêpes are usually topped with a fruit coulis, chocolate, nutella...
From Paris Montparnasse station, it takes about 1.5 hours on the train direct to Rennes. There is also a small international airport, with direct flights from across Europe. Another option is to stay in Caen and take a day tripover to Rennes.
Two nights is likely sufficient, including the night you arrive. If you are planning a weekend trip, make sure you arrive with enough time to explore the Marché des Lices which runs every Saturday morning from 7:30am to 1:30pm. In all, Rennes is an excellent destination for a short city break, and is close to other tourist stalwarts like Saint-Malo...
There are quite a few hotels around the train station, which are quite central with a good amount of shops and restaurants nearby. That being said, the area is quite modern and doesn’t quite have the old world charm that the area around Marché des Lices does. It is a pleasant 10-minute walk from the train station to the Marché des Lices. Hotels aro...
Rennes in the 17th and 18th century. After exploring the medieval quarter you can explore the more recent part of Rennes, which has lots of grand buildings typical of the 17th and 18th centuries. One of the most imposing is the splendid mansion called 'Hotel de Blossac', and also here in Rue du Chapitre you can see the Hotel de Brie.
One of the areas is the streets around Place Ste-Anne lined with higgledy-piggledy half-timbered houses. Do not miss the Ti Coz, the bright red house at 3 Rue Saint-Guillaume. It’s the oldest house in Rennes. Built in the early 16th century (in 1505, according to the date inscribed on the façade), its name means 'Old House' in Breton.
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A crossing since the era of the ancient Romans, Brittany’s lively capital perches at the junction of highways connecting major northwestern French cities. It is a ravishingly set-out city with an expressive and majestic center and an astonishing medieval quarter that is a delight to be immersed in. At night, Rennes has no end of brisk spots to visit for a drink, while the range of chic ...
