Search results
- Timber town. Made from wood felled in the surrounding forests, Rennes is home to some charming colombage buildings. A fire in 1720 wiped out more than 900 of these shops and houses, but there remain a good number mostly in Place Saint-Anne, Place Champ-Jacquet and Place Rallier du Baty.
- Patterns of success. Once upon a time, Rennes was one of the biggest and best places for mosaic production in France. Isidore Odorico (1893-1945) worked on various city centre decorations, including the Saint-Georges swimming baths, post office, covered market, churches, business premises and private residences.
- Park life. There are two main parks in Rennes, both created by the landscape architect Denis Bühler. Parc Thabor is made up of English, French, botanical and rose gardens with an aviary and a bandstand.
- Royal business. The city’s sovereign court of justice was built between 1618 and 1655 to record royal edicts and letters. Parlement de Bretagne sits within a royal square and is decorated inside in C17 Parisian style.
Apr 30, 2018 · Today, Rennes boasts the highest number of timber-framed houses in Brittany, built from trees harvested from the surrounding forests. Beautifully restored, the coloured beams and wonky angles of their striped façades are testimony to 300 years of hard work by skilled local craftsmen.
Aug 3, 2021 · Rennes has been tucked into northwestern Brittany for two millennia, yet it only became a city of any real significance after World War II.
- Visit The Glorious Rennes Cathedral
- Eat A Delicious Crêpe in Old Town Rennes
- Lose Yourself in Parc Du Thabor
- Pay A Visit to Notre-Dame-En-Saint-Melaine Church
- Take A Guided Tour of The Parliament of Brittany
- Admire Centuries-Old Half-Timbered Houses
- Shop For French Brands in Old Rennes
Built and rebuilt over the centuries, it took Rennes Cathedralquite a while to reveal itself at its best to worshippers and visitors alike. But the wait was certainly worth it and the result is quite spectacular. Dedicated to Saint Peter, Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Rennes, as it is known locally, was built in Gothic style in the 12th century. In th...
Crêpes are a French national dish but they are best eaten in Brittany. The Bretons have developed their own original recipes,giving the local crêpe its characteristic taste and texture. Either made of wheat or buckwheat, crêpes in Brittany can be eaten as a main course or dessert, or both during the same meal! Garnished with ham, cheese, and sausag...
Formerly the gardens and orchard of Saint-Melaine abbey nearby, Parc du Thaboris now Rennes’s main public park. The quiet alleys and colourful flower beds make the park the ideal place to escape the city’s hustle and bustle. With the sun out, the well maintained lawns become the locals’ favourite place to chill out. Parc du Thabor owes its current ...
First built as an abbey dedicated to Saint Melaine, a cleric believed to be Rennes’s first bishop who lived in the 6th century, Notre-Dame-en-Saint-Melaineis today a parish church worth a visit. The building is the focal point of the medieval streetof Saint-Melaine and dominates its surroundings from its position at the top of a hill. As you climb ...
Built in classical style during the 17th century, the Parliament of Brittanyis Rennes’s pride. Financed entirely by local tax, the palace served mainly as a court of justice but also as a legislative organ in matters still under Brittany’s control since the Union of the Duchy with the French monarchy in 1532. The Parliament was abolished in 1790 du...
One thing that is really striking in Rennes is the city’s rich medieval heritage. Half-timbered housesdating anywhere from the 15th to the 18th century still stand proudly, although askew, in many streets of Rennes. Unfortunately, a dramatic fire in 1720 destroyed nearly all of them and the subsequent regulations to avoid a new disaster meant the r...
Following the destruction of nearly all wooden framed houses in Rennes in the early 18th century, the city was rebuilt in stone. Large thoroughfares lined up with magnificent buildings in classic styleemerged from the ashes. The streets found between Rennes Cathedral and the Parliament of Brittany were remodelled in the new fashion. Elegant arched ...
- The Old Town of Rennes. The city of Rennes was almost entirely wiped out by a great fire in 1720. This is why you would find several dignified late 1700s houses when you visit.
- Parc du Thabor. On Rennes’ highest hill is ten hectares of the most superb gardens you may ever see. Parc du Thabor is a marvel. If you need to be swayed, think about the rose gardens in summer, where over 2,000 varieties bloom yearly.
- Palais du Parlement de Bretagne. After the unification of Brittany and France in 1532, the city’s influence soared almost suddenly, and it assumed the home of one of the country’s 17 regional administrations.
- Museum of Fine Arts of Rennes (Musée des Beaux-Arts) Like a good number of French regional museums, the city’s Musée des Beaux-Arts opened after the French Revolution, with artworks confiscated from religious buildings and massive homes in the area.
Feb 9, 2017 · The capital of Brittany, Rennes is a beautiful city and a great place to explore northern French culture. With a history that dates back to the Roman era, there are many intriguing monuments, as well as exciting museums, beautiful parks, and fascinating churches.
People also ask
Why should you visit Rennes?
Is Rennes a medieval city?
When did Rennes become a city?
What is Rennes famous for?
Is Rennes a good place to live?
Why is the Parliament of Brittany important to Rennes?
From the early sixteenth century until the French Revolution, Rennes was a parliamentary, administrative and garrison city of the historic province of Brittany in the Kingdom of France, as evidenced by its 17th-century Parliament's Palace. Rennes played an important role in the Stamped Paper Revolt (Revolt of the papier timbré) in 1675.
