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Where is Rennes located?
- Rennes is the capital city of Brittany, a magnificent medieval town in northwest France, known for its fascinating half-timbered houses and the imposing Rennes Cathedral.
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Is Rennes a walkable city?
- Yes, it is a lovely walkable town with much to see and explore.
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What parks and gardens can visitors explore in Rennes?
- Parc du Thabor features a beautiful rose garden, a French garden, an English park, and an aviary.
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What museums and cultural sites are in Rennes?
- The Musée des Beaux-Arts, located south of the Vilaine River, boasts a large collection of artworks, including paintings by Botticelli, Rubens, and Picasso.
- The Champs Libres cultural center includes a library, the Brittany Museum, and a science center with a planetarium.
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1. Parc du Thabor
Located in the heart of Rennes, on its highest hill, the Thabor Park (Parc du Thabor) is one of the most beautiful parks in France. For a long time the garden belonged to the monks of Saint-Melaine Benedictine Abbey, and there was time when only men were allowed to visit it. The garden was redesigned in 1866 by the famous Parisian landscape designer Denis Bühler and its ten magnificent acres were divided into French-style garden, an English park, a bandstand, a cave, several ponds, many beautiful statues, old rare trees, an aviary, an area named L’Enfer (hell) and a magnificent rose garden with 2000 varieties of roses.
Place Saint-Mélaine, 35000 Rennes, France, Phone: +33-2-23-62-19-40
2. Duchesne Tower
Duchesne Tower is part of the Gallo-Roman defensive wall in Rennes, France, built in the third century to protect this part of the town. The tower was rebuilt in the 15th century, at the same time when the second tower and Mordelaise Gate were built. The gate was at that time the main entrance into Rennes. Today the tower is located next to the former Hôtel d'Artillerie. The tower got its name from Jehan du Chesne, who was the first inhabitant of the tower. It is classified historical monument.
Rue Nantaise, 35000 Rennes, Phone: +33-2-99-67-11-11
3. Parlement de Bretagne
The Palace of the Parliament of Brittany, or the Parliament of Brittany, in Rennes, in Ille-et-Vilaine, is one of the most important architectural works of the 17th century France and an important part of Brittany patrimony. The palace was designed by the architect Salomon de Brosse, who also designed the Palais du Luxembourg in Paris, and it was completed in 1655. The magnificent palace was the seat of the Parliament of Brittany from the time it was built until the parliament was dissolved by the French Revolution in February 1790. In 1804 the building became the Rennes Court of Appeal and it still serves that role. In 1994 the building was completely restored after the fire damaged most of it and is today one of the most popular Rennes tourist attractions.
Parlement de Bretagne, Rue Nationale, Rennes, France
4. La Place des Lices
La Place des Lices is the heart of Rennes, France. For more than four centuries, every Saturday from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM everyone in Rennes picks up a basket and heads to the Lices square. It is the largest Rennes market the second largest market in France. It is the place to come and taste and see what is fresh, new, delicious and special. People walk with their basket in hand and taste produce and products of more than 300 farmers, vendors, artisans and craftsmen. Colorful stalls are filled with fresh local produce, fish, seafood, shellfish, meat, charcuterie, fruits, vegetables, cheese, butter, flowers, honey, jams, bread, cider and the traditional sausage pie. It is a wonderful place to get the pulse of Rennes and enjoy the best Rennes has to offer.
35000 Rennes, France
5. Les Champs Libres
Les Champs Libres or The Free Fields is a cultural center in the heart of Rennes, France, near the railway station. Opened in 2006, the center the cultural center of Rennes and it includes the Library of Rennes Métropole, the Museum of Brittany, the Espace des sciences (the Science Center) and planetarium. It also has the Cantine numérique rennaise, an exhibition room and a conference hall. The building was designed by the French architect Christian de Portzamparc. The planetarium offers fascinating 3D shows. The museum of Brittany has a significant collection of rare and aesthetic artifacts, which tell the story of the social, technical, cultural and societal evolution of Brittany and the Breton people, from Prehistoric times to today.
10 Cours des Alliés, 35000 Rennes, France, Phone: +33-2-23-40-66-00
6. L'Eglise Notre Dame en Saint-Melaine
Notre-Dame-in-Saint-Melaine is a French abbey church located in Rennes, department of Ille-et-Vilaine, France, just next to the western end of Thabor Park. All that remains of the former Benedictine abbey today is the abbot's residence, the cloister with its elaborate decoration and the Notre Dame church. The church has elements from the Romanesque era, together with statues, tombs and 19th-century and contemporary stained glass windows. Since 2016, Father Nicolas Guillou, appointed pastor of the parish. Is in charge of the Abbey. The sanctuary is dedicated to St. Melaine, the first bishop of Rennes, who died in the SIXTH century and was buried on the hill of the Field of Repos in Rennes. The church served as a cathedral in the first half of the 19TH century until the Saint Peter's Cathedral in Rennes was rebuilt.
L'Eglise Notre Dame en Saint-Melaine , Place Saint-Mélaine, 35000 Rennes, France, Phone: +33-2-99-38-84-10
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