The 15 things to do in Rennes

Are you passing through the capital of Brittany? Don't miss the 15 things to do in the city of Rennes!

Located in the beautiful region of Brittany, Rennes is an ideal destination for a weekend or longer holidays with family or friends. Regularly elected as one of the most enjoyable cities in France, this city with a human size, a little over two hundred and fifteen thousand inhabitants, is a young and dynamic city with a rich historical heritage. As such, the city has the label Cities and Countries of Art and History since 1986.

With its city centre with wood-paned houses of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, its paved alleys, its magnificent private hotels, its gastronomy, its musical richness and its festive atmosphere, Rennes does not lack charms. Whatever your desires and budget, you will fully enjoy your visit to the capital of Brittany.

And for an unforgettable stay, Wanderlix tells you the 15 things to do in Rennes.

1. Folding in the historic centre

Welcome to the heart of the city of Rennes! In the small paved streets of the Chapter, the Palette and the Saint-Sauveur, you will be able to observe splendid houses in wooden panels, with beautiful colourful facades. It is also in Rennes that we find the most houses in Colombages in France, after Strasbourg. To restore or rest, the historic centre has many cafes and restaurants.

2. Saint-Pierre Cathedral

It is here, in the Cathedral of Saint Peter, that the Dukes and Duchess of Brittany were crowned for centuries. Its historical importance explains that it is one of the must-sees to visit in Rennes. Completely renovated between 2009 and 2014, the cathedral is quite classic from the outside. Once inside, you will be dazzled by its sumptuous stained glass windows, its Roman altar, its exceptional paintings, its incredible vault, and its organs dating back to the 19th century. Don't miss this visit!

3. City hotel

Built in 1720, the Hotel de Ville consists of three monuments, connected by the clock tower. It includes a Pantheon that pays tribute to the dead Rennes for France.

4. L’opéra de Rennes

Located right in front of the Hôtel de Ville, the smallest opera in France, with less than seven hundred squares, was briefly contested during its inauguration, due to an original form. Book your tickets for a lyrical opera, or enjoy public visits or rehearsals that take place several times a year, to discover this must-see in the city of Rennes.

5. Visit Chapelle Saint-Yves

The visit of La Chapelle Saint-Yves has many surprises. Built in the 15th century in a flamboyant Gothic style, it is decorated with many sculptures, all more surprising than others. This is a fun visit that should please your children! For the small history, La Chapelle was transformed into a hardware store in the 19th century and, for a time, housed the tourist office of the city.

6. Portes Mordelaises

This is one of the only remaining remains of the ramparts of the city of Rennes. Named Royal doors for their role played during the induction of the Dukes and Duchesses of Brittany, the Portes Mordelaises consists of two doors: a large servant to the passage of the vehicles, and a smaller one allowing the pedestrians to enter the city. Surrounded by two symmetrical towers and a levis bridge, the doors have long been used as a defense system in the city of Rennes.

7. The Lices Square Market

Created in 1622, the market for Place des Lices is the second largest market in France. Every Saturday, nearly three hundred local producers come to sell fruit and vegetables, meat, cheese, fresh fish, but also flowers. Taste some oysters, taste the famous sausage cake, a local speciality, and enjoy your walk in the market, to admire the large wooden houses that surround the square. In summer, music groups accompany your races, in this market to visit in Rennes absolutely.

8. Thabor Park

Looking for a place to spend good time with family in Rennes? Take the direction of Thabor Park. Named him. Central Park Rennes , this green space of more than ten hectares is particularly appreciated by the inhabitants of the city and tourists. Piste de running, botanical gardens, French and English parks, cave, basins and waterfalls, volière or roseraie, there are for all tastes and desires. In the spring, the park hosts the Mythos Festival. During the summer period, on Sunday evening, music shows are regularly organized in the music kiosk and the green theatre.

9. The Parliament of Brittany

This symbol of Brittany is a monument to visit in Rennes absolutely. Until the French Revolution, the meetings of the Parliament of Brittany were held here. Destroyed by a fire in 1994, the Parliament was completely restored and now houses the Court of Appeal of Brittany and the Court of Assises d’Ille-et-Vilaine. If you would like to visit this building, approach the Tourist Office.

10. The Museum of Fine Arts

With a beautiful collection ranging from Egyptian antiquity to contemporary times, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes should delight art lovers. Works by the greatest artists such as La Tour, Rubens and Véronèse are currently exhibited.

11. Museum of Brittany

If you want to better understand the history of Rennes and its region of Prehistory today, take the direction of the Musée de Bretagne. Beautiful collections of objects allow you to discover the life of Bretons and Rennes over time.

12. The docks of Vilaine

On foot or by bike, enjoy a beautiful sunny day to walk on the banks of La Vilaine, the river that runs through the city. Along the docks, you can admire the city and its buildings, the péniches, and take a stop at the confluence gardens, with its pontoons, bridges and benches, ideal for a break or practice fishing. For the most courageous, a journey of forty-five kilometers from the e-mail François Mitterrand allows you to reach the lakes of Apigné.

To visit Rennes in an unusual way, rent a kayak or paddle. Others may prefer a relaxing walk through the water, comfortably installed on a barge. It’s up to you!

13. Enjoy Rennes evenings

Young and student, Rennes is a city of parties and music. Rendez-vous rue Saint-Michel, also called rue de la Soif, for a festive atmosphere, until the end of the night. Wine bars, trendy cafes, cocktail bars, terrace coffee, clubs, there are for all tastes. If you like music, Rennes is undoubtedly the city of France where you will find the most coffee-concerts, festivals, street groups and new upscales of the musical scene.

14. The forest of Brocéliande

Stay in the heart of King Arthur's legend, sweeping yourself into the mysterious forest of Brocéliande. Only forty-five minutes from Rennes, this is the ideal place for a family trip.

15. The village of Fougères

Also located outside the city of Rennes, about forty minutes away from the car, this very pretty medieval city, and its castle, are really worth a visit.

Our workshop in Rennes

Take advantage of your stay in Rennes to initiate yourself to the art of the Perliers craftsmen and make glass jewelry with a chalumeau. This workshop 3h discovery is offered to you by Lucie, artisan verrier à la flemme, all for 90€ . You will learn to make a beautiful ball in blown glass, with which you will make your own custom jewellery.

Also to be done in Rennes and the surrounding area

You have a little time and are looking for things to do in Rennes and its surroundings? Here's what Wanderlix offers:

• Visit the Museum of Dance
• Take your children to the Science Space and its Planetarium
• Discover the great library of the cultural space of the Free Fields
• Relax at Spadium
• Go to see a show at the National Theatre of Brittany
• Getting to Saint Malo
• Visit the village of La Roche aux Fées

How do I get back?

By train

To get to Rennes from Paris, the train is both an economic, practical and ecological solution. The route lasts only one hour and forty-five minutes and more than forty links between Rennes and the Gare Montparnasse are planned each day. Once in the Breton capital, it is very easy to move on foot, by bus, by metro, and even by bike, when time permits.

By plane

An hour flight from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport is enough to reach Rennes by plane. Direct flights are also provided daily from the main French cities and major European cities. To get the best rates, book your trip in advance and compare prices on the flight comparison Ulysses . Once you reach the destination, you can reach the city centre in just 20 minutes by taking the C6 bus line.

By car

Rennes enjoys a good motorway network. To reach Rennes from Paris, take the A11 or the A81. You'll need about three thirty hours to get to your destination. In addition, the capital of Brittany is only one hour from Nantes, four thirty hours from Bordeaux, and a little less than six hours from Lille.

Where to stay in Rennes?

The city of Rennes is rather cheap. So you shouldn't have trouble staying in the city centre, whatever your budget. It is indeed the ideal neighborhood to fully enjoy the city’s tourist attractions and its atmosphere. Attention, however, some streets, animated until late in the night, can be very noisy. To choose the right accommodation and to find the best rates, check the prices on this hotel comparison .