Rennes Things to Do Tips by Goner Top 5 Page for this destination

18th Century Buildings

Rennes being consumed by fire in 1720, was rebuilt in the severe classical style of the time, elegant and somewhat formal. One of the most beautiful architechtural complexes arose here in the eighteenth century while the picturesque neighborhoods with half-timbered houses are a reminder of its medieval heritage.

Le Rue St. George

Rennes' old quarter, with its surviving cobblestone streets and half-timbered, 15th- and 16th-century Renaissance and medieval houses, is the liveliest part of the city. Cafes, boutiques and crepe houses occupy many of the old buildings and it is here where you will find the most spirited nightlife. Look for the bar in the old jail.

Breton Signs

I thought it was interesting that the Breton language is the only Celtic language spoken on the continent. The Breton language is actually very similar to the Welsh language.

I noticed the Breton signs around Rennes, the The Breton language is beginning to show its presence in institutional life. The Côtes d'Armor and Finistère departments now provide bilingual signposts on all major department roads. .

Directions: The Lices

St. Melanie

The cathedral of Rennes was rebuilt in a pseudo-Ionic style between 1787 and 1844 on the site of two churches dating originally from the 4th century. The west side has twin towers was completed in 1700 and is in the Renaissance style. The interior is richly decorated, a German altar-piece of the 15th century is worth seeing for its carving and gilding. The archbishops palace occupies part of the site with the abbey dedicated to St Melaine, a large statue of the Virgin was placed above its dome in 1867.

The Parliment Building

The finest building in Rennes is the old parliament house (now the law-court), designed by Jacques Debrosse in the I 7th century, and decorated with statues of legal celebrities, carving, and paintings by Jean Jouvenet and other well-known artists. The town hail was erected in the first half of the 18th century. It contains the library and the municipal archives, which are of great importance for the history of Brittany.

Opéra de Rennes

Rennes has an active cultural life with a great interest in the opera.

Season: Oct-May

Address: Place de l'Hôtel de Ville

Other Contact: opera@opera-rennes.fr

Phone: Phone: +33 (02) 99 78 48 68

Website: http://www.opera-rennes.fr/

Hotel de Ville

Take a look at the Hotel de Ville on Place de la Maure .which was built during the 18th Century, I think it’s a beautiful hotel building.

Musee de Bretagne & Musee des Beau Arts

Musee de Bretagne, on the south bank of the Viaine Rive provides a look into the Breton past with displays of Breton furniture and costumes. There are displays on Brittany’s prehistoric megaliths with rural crafts.

In the same building is the Musee des Beaux Arts with paintings from the 14th century including a room devoted to art on Breton themes. There are also paintings by Gauguin, Bernard and three works of art by Picasso. Gaugain lived and worked in Brittany from 1886-1890, he painted the landscape and its people He chose to concentrate of the primitive side of the Breton Catholic faith. In his painting Le Christ Jaune (1889) you will see Christ on the Cross with Breton landscape in the background.

Address: 20 quai Emile Zola

Directions: 02 99 28 55 84 (Musee de Bretagne
02 99 28 55 85 (Musee des Beau Arts)
open wed-mon, closed on public holidays