All roads in Brittany cross by way of Rennes! Effectively, not bodily, however for its enchantment, they need to! Amidst Brittany’s various landscapes and charming locales, Rennes, its capital, holds a definite allure. Its historic metropolis centre guarantees to please you with its multifaceted structure and meals tradition, fashionable boutique motels, vibrant outlets, idyllic environment and nightlife. Save this text for concepts and inspiration for issues to do in Rennes, the center of Brittany.
Disclosure: Our Rennes itinerary was a part of a marketing campaign with Brittany Tourism and Vacation spot Rennes. HDYTI maintains full editorial management of the content material printed on this website.
Rennes is a enjoyable metropolis to expertise!
Whether or not as a part of a Brittany (‘Bretagne’) journey itinerary or as a day or weekend journey from Nantes or Paris (it takes 1 hour and 1 hour 30 minutes respectively by high-speed practice to get to Rennes), we suggest you expertise town of Rennes.
A part of the enchantment of this full of life metropolis in northwestern France features a walkable previous metropolis centre, charming cafés, half-timber-framed homes, stunning parks and sensory meals markets. The capital of Brittany can also be a very good base for coastal excursions to Saint Malo and Mont Saint-Michel.
Its giant scholar inhabitants (over 60,000 throughout quite a lot of universities) offers Rennes a distinctly youthful vibe. This after all interprets into full of life evenings, enjoyable weekends and a hive of exercise throughout its many bars, eating places, and public squares.
In the course of the taxi experience from Gare de Rennes practice station, a outstanding architectural landmark in its personal proper, we handed by inventive store shows, vibrantly adorned cafés, and alluring outside terraces. It grew to become immediately clear that we have been in a Breton metropolis the place enjoyable and creativity are integral to its identification.
HDYTI Tip: Fly into Nantes airport and do a ‘Metropolis to Sea’ itinerary that takes you by practice (or rental automobile) from Nantes to Rennes and on to St-Malo. See beneath for data on planning your Rennes itinerary.
So, let’s dip into this Rennes itinerary of 5 issues to expertise and MORE!
#1. Keep in a lovely boutique resort – Mama Shelter Rennes
Mama Shelter Rennes, the place we stayed throughout our go to to Rennes, completely lived as much as our expectations for affordability, considerate inside design, vibrant areas, playful vibes, and good high quality meals in a boutique resort.
Recognized for choosing thrilling cities as hosts, Mama Shelter, a French model and brainchild of Serge Trigano and his sons Jérémie and Benjamin, opened their Rennes location in March 2023.
The rooms are reasonably spacious and comfy. The room inside decor combines minimalism with spotlight particulars resembling vibrant colors, whimsical prints and delicate textures. Communal areas are crammed with character (we liked the ceiling artwork and carpet detailing).
Mama Shelter suits completely into the full of life spirit of Rennes with its array of facilities together with spa/pool, retro arcade video games, vibrant indoor, rooftop and terrace bars and cheerful social areas.
HYTIP Tip: We stayed in an ‘XXL Mama room’ that sleeps as much as 4 folks (excellent for a household). To view present charges and make a reserving, go to Mama Shelter, Rennes.
#2. Seize Instagrammable pictures on a metropolis centre stroll
Setting out from our resort, we spent two hours exploring the historic centre of Rennes with our art-historian native information, Madeleine Guyot-Gendron. Throughout a simple stroll, she identified lots of the foremost sights with illustrations, anecdotes and a outstanding depth of information that introduced them to life.
Lices Sq. sits proper beside Mama Shelter. This allowed us to start our strolling tour studying about how knights as soon as jousted and clashed right here throughout tournaments in historic instances. We’d later return to Lices Sq. for a much less bloody and extra gratifying pastime throughout our go to to Rennes.
Highlights of our strolling tour of Rennes included the fifteenth century metropolis fortifications, the Mordelaises Gate by way of which Dukes of Brittany would cross on their method to be topped, the beautiful inside of Rennes Cathedral (don’t be deceived by the austere exterior), and the Parliament of Brittany (Palais du Parlement de Bretagne) at Place du Parlement.
Town’s medieval structure captured our creativeness. Surviving a lethal hearth in 1720 and the ravages of time, battle and modernisation, Rennes retains its title of being dwelling to the very best variety of preserved timber/half-timbered buildings in Brittany!
HDYTI Tip: Head to Champ-Jacquet Sq. to seize a few of the greatest and most vibrant examples of Rennes’ iconic timber-framed homes.
Rennes has many different attention-grabbing historic buildings, considered one of them being the Artwork Deco Saint Georges swimming pool (a public pool in-built 1926).
Guests are welcome to marvel on the participating exterior motifs and the expertly crafted inside mosaics (created by the Odorico household) or take a dip within the thermal pool!
#3. Glide alongside canals on a lazy afternoon
There’s a trendy ease about Rennes and its those that we liked. One exercise that, for us, encapsulated town’s easygoing nature was a self-driven electrical boat experience alongside its canals.
These electrical boats (Les P’tits Bateaux) are silent, straightforward to drive (no licence wanted) and a good way to look at town from a distinct viewpoint.
Boarding at Canal Saint-Martin and after a 5-minute teaching session and a fast security inspection, we have been quickly on our method. Aided by a delicate breeze, we spent the subsequent hour motoring alongside the water’s nonetheless floor, recognizing wildlife and waving to locals on leisurely walks and bicycle rides alongside the banks of the Ille-et-Rance canal.
Methods to do it: The boats might be booked for 1 hour (from €40 for the 5-seater to €55 for the 7-seater) or longer. For reserving data see Les P’tits Bateaux.
#4. Take pleasure in custom with Breton galettes and ciders
Questioning what the distinction between a crêpe and a galette is? You’re not alone!
A galette (extra historically referred to as ‘galettes au sarrasin’) is a savoury crêpe (pancake) particularly comprised of buckwheat. They’re gluten free which is why a ‘Breton galette’ is considered one of our favorite delicacies each time we go to Brittany.
As a part of our Rennes itinerary, we had two implausible alternatives to bask in these Breton specialties. Firstly, we visited Le Breizh Café, a classy crêperie and wine bar conceived by meals entrepreneur Bertrand Larcher the place they specialize in galettes, crêpes and ciders.
Le Breizh Café makes use of buckwheat that’s regionally sourced and organically grown. Their thrilling menu is curated by Chef Raphaël Fumio Kudaka and fuses culinary philosophies between Brittany and Japan the place buckwheat is a shared tradition.
HDYTI Tip: Dinner for 2 (alcohol not included) = €80
The subsequent morning, we joined queues of locals eagerly ready to be served by considered one of a number of meals vehicles at Marché de Place des Lices (extra on this market beneath). The deal with? Recent galettes (made on conventional forged iron stoves and piping scorching) loved street-food type.
We simply might have eaten a number of of the very fashionable ‘Galette et Saucisses’ (galette with sausages). They’re that good!
HDYTI Tip: Probably the greatest methods to get pleasure from a conventional Breton galette or crêpe is to accompany it with a relaxing glass (or bottle) of Breton cider.
#5. Store like a neighborhood at Marché de Place des Lices
The fruits of our go to to Rennes and one of the vital enduring recollections we got here away with was a go to to the weekly Saturday morning farmers’ market – which occurred to be situated proper exterior our resort.
Marché de Place des Lices (a 400 12 months previous market custom) can greatest be described as a spot the place you’ll be able to really feel the soul of Rennes and expertise the colors, sounds and aromas of Brittany.
Locals and curious guests (estimated numbers are round 10,000) present up each weekend to do their buying in what’s reputed to be the second largest market in France. The tempo is relaxed however the vitality is infectious!
Marché des Lices contains a dizzying array of farmers, butchers, fishmongers, producers and growers promoting an equally overwhelming vary of recent components and meals merchandise. We actually have been unprepared for the choice on supply. That is another excuse for us to make a return go to to Rennes!
Methods to do it: The market opens early and closes round 2pm. To keep away from the crowds, get there between 9am and 9:30am. Go along with a buying bag as a result of there’s a LOT of fine native and regional produce to select from.
Different culinary issues to do in Rennes
Espresso and cake at Chérie Chéri
Away from busy markets, Rennes has quite a lot of attention-grabbing cafés, boulangeries (bakeries), and patisseries (pastry outlets) the place you’ll be able to spend some free time. A few of them, like the attractive boutique store we visited referred to as Chérie Chérie, supply an opportunity to mix a lazy brunch with some buying.
Lunch at Bistro Origines
A memorable lunch spot in Rennes is Bistro Origines situated in Hôtel Dieu, a former maternity hospital turned leisure, social enterprise, microbrewery and artistic area. Selling a social economic system utilizing sustainable practices is the working philosophy of this challenge.
Though reasonably quiet once we visited at noon, Bistro Origines has a pleasant, sunny and festive environment. Extra outstanding have been the flavours conjured up by the inventive chef on the bistro (open for lunch and dinner); thanks partially to the freshness of the components sourced from native producers. Meal for 2 (alcohol not included) = €60
Style the ocean at Chez Brume
Good high quality fish and seafood is the soul of Chez Brume. Their menu is deliberately small (no lengthy record of choices right here) and is designed to spotlight recent and seasonal components regionally sourced from suppliers in Brittany. The charming tortoiseshell decor and cosy environment mixed with flavourful dishes served to create a pleasant dinner expertise for us. Meal for 2 (alcohol not included) = €80
Drinks within the previous metropolis
When in Rennes, find time for a post-dinner stroll within the streets of the previous metropolis. Head to the world round Saint-Anne, Champ-Jacquet and Rallier du Baty squares for bars with outside seating. Seize a cider, discover a terrace and watch town stay its greatest nightlife!
Day journey concepts from Rennes
Take the prospect to see the Emerald Coast of Brittany as a part of your Rennes itinerary. Notable seaside cities embrace Saint Malo, Saint-Lunaire, Dinard, and Cancale. The Mont-Saint-Michel and its beautiful Benedictine abbey (now a UNESCO World Heritage website) is a must-see.
We had hoped to check out land browsing (aka sand yachting) at Cherrueix however, sadly for us, the climate had different plans throughout our go to.
The place to remain
The Parenthesis Visitor Home is a really fashionable B&B situated within the village of Le Vivier-Sur-Mer. Operated by the beautiful Maeva and François who reside on the property, this charming visitor home affords 5 thoughtfully themed and spacious rooms with ample pure mild.
Facilities embrace espresso machine, heating/air-conditioning, cotton mattress linen, environmentally acutely aware bathtub merchandise and on-site parking.
HDYTI Tip: The home can sleep 13 folks (excellent for a bunch). Room charges begin from €85 per night time. Late arrivals are accommodated.
The place to eat
You understand a restaurant is sweet when the proprietor is on first-name foundation with the locals! Pascal and Léa Orticoni welcomed us with massive smiles to Le Bistrot Joséphine on our last night time in Brittany. This cosy bistro, overlooking the bay of Mont Saint-Michel, sources its components regionally and goals to take care of a lightweight environmental footprint whereas doing so.
The dishes pay homage to the Breton coast with easy however inventive and flavourful variations of native favourites resembling ‘Joues de lotte en bouillon d’aromates’ (monkfish cheeks in herb broth served with greens and grilled buckwheat). This was basic bistronomy expressed superbly! Meal for 2 (alcohol not included) = €80
Planning your Rennes itinerary – Journey data
EasyJet operates day by day flights from London Gatwick to Rennes Airport (roughly 1 hour quarter-hour).
A number of day by day high-speed trains run from Nantes (TER) and from Paris (TGV) to Rennes.
Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Saint-Malo. From there take the TER practice to Rennes.
For extra independence and suppleness, choose up a rental automobile from Nantes.
To seek out out concerning the newest occasions and sights in Rennes, obtain probably the most up-to-date metropolis guides or plan your individual Rennes itinerary, go to Vacation spot Rennes and Brittany Tourism.
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