Exploring the city of Rennes

Rennes is the capital of Brittany, and France’s tenth largest city. Being in Brittany, it is easy to pop over to visit Rennes from the UK. Enjoy wandering through its medieval streets and taking in its picture-perfect vistas. Stroll past its half-timbered, higgledy-piggledy buildings in Place Ste-Anne, many of the street houses have wooden decorative lattice work often panted in bright colours. Later relax in one of the city’s wonderful open spaces, such as the Thabor Gardens, laid out over 24 acres which includes a French garden, English garden, lawns, an aviary, and a botanical section.

The Musée de Bretagne, situated in the futuristic Champs Libres building, tells Brittany’s story through history. The Palais du Parlement de Bretagne is well worth seeing as it could rank as one of the finest buildings in this part of France. Book a guided tour in the English language during July or August to see and hear about the incredible restoration work that was completed after a catastrophic fire in 1994.

On a Saturday the fresh produce market is pungent with smells of produce from local farmers and is well worth a visit.

Small cafes, narrow stone streets and tonnes of atmosphere appeal during the day, and at night you can relax and people watch whilst enjoying great Breton food and wine.

Rennes is a growing university city and its educated younger generation bring a feeling of freshness to the place, to which the city has responded with the opening of many interesting and trendy bars and restaurants, catering for all tastes.

If you fancy a break from the city, you can take a detour out of the city to the forest of Broceliande with its mystical monuments and mist rising from the streams, before heading back to the city for more culture.