Rennes Tourist Attractions
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Rennes, situated at the junction of the canalized Ille and the Vilaine, is the chief town of the département of Ille-et-Vilaine, the see of an archbishop and a university town.
Hôtel de Ville
In the center of the older part of Rennes is the Place de la Mairie, with the handsome Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) built by Gabriel in 1734 and the Theater (1831-1835). To the east of the Theater is the Place du Palais, surrounded by fine 18th C. houses.On the north side of the square is the Palais de Justice (Law Courts), built between 1618 and 1654 by Salomon de Brosse, the architect of the Palais du Luxembourg in Paris, which was originally the meeting place of the Breton Parlement. It has a richly decorated interior; particularly notable is the Grand' Chambre, with a beautiful wooden ceiling and fine tapestries.
Notre Dame
In Rennes, northeast of the Palais de Justice is the old abbey church of Notre-Dame (St Melaine, 11th-13th C.), with a richly sculptured facade. To the left of the church are the old monastic buildings, now housing the City Planning Department, with a beautiful cloister. Behind the church, to the east, extends the Jardin du Thabor, the old abbey gardens and now the city's finest park, adjoining which is the Botanical Garden.
St Sauveur
West of the Place de la Mairie in Rennes is the handsome church of St-Sauveur (17th-18th C.), with a fine pulpit. Beyond this is the Cathedral of St-Pierre, a very old foundation which was completely rebuilt in the 19th C. It has a west front in classical style, with two towers built between 1541 and 1703. The most notable feature of the spacious interior is a very beautiful altar (German school) in the last chapel in the south aisle.In the narrow streets south of the Cathedral many old houses have been preserved, like the 18th C. Hôtel de Blossac at 6 rue du Chapitre. A short distance west of the Cathedral is the Porte Mordelaise, a relic of the town's 15th C. defenses.
Place de la République
In Rennes, to the south of the Place de la Mairie and the Cathedral the canalized river Vilaine flows from east to west, flanked on either side by busy streets with many new blocks of flats. These streets cut across the animated Place de la République, on the south side of which, in the newer part of the town on the left bank of the Vilaine, is the massive Palais du Commerce (Chamber of Commerce, 19th-20th C.), also housing the Head Post Office.
Palais des Musées
In Rennes, on Quai Emile-Zola, is the Palais des Musées. The Musée des Beaux-Arts has fine French, Italian and Dutch paintings, sculpture and ceramics.
Musée de Bretagne
The Musée de Bretagne (history, archaeology, ethnography) has a wide range of exhibits, including much excavated material from Brittany and the Mediterranean area, applied and decorative art, furniture, traditional costumes and pictures, mainly from Brittany.
Eglise de Toussaints
Opposite the Palais des Musées, to the southwest, is a former Jesuit church, the Eglise de Toussaints (1624-1657), with a richly decorated interior.
Old Town
In Rennes, visitors who have enough time will find it rewarding to walk around some of the little streets that escaped the 1720 fire. They are mostly to be found to the south of the Cathedral, e.g. in Rue des Dames and Rue du Chapitre.
Les Tombées de la Nuit
The Les Tombées de la Nuit takes place in early July with almost 200 performances. Events include dance and theater performances, cabarets, puppet shows, vocal and musical concerts and street entertainment. The venues are equally impressive and include cloisters, medieval squares and gorgeous gardens.
Château de la Ballue
Château de la Ballue features a garden with 13 surprises, including a maze, a green theater and unexpected water jets that spring from the turf. There is a labyrinth of sculptures, yew pillars, topiary twists and fernery.
Jardins du Thabor
Jardins du Thabor is an attractive garden that has been set out in the gardens of the Abbaye de St Mélaine. Of note are a variety of well tended trees and some elegant palm houses.
Métro
A 9.4km VAL automated metro line with 15 stations is under construction in Rennes. It will run from the University campus and Pontchaillou hospital complex in the northwest via the city center to a southeastern public housing area.
Map of Rennes Attractions
Map - Rennes
