One of the first things you will notice upon arrival in
Rennes is that it is well-preserved, with countless examples of architecture
from the 16th Century on. Architecture is one of the City's great riches,
and is a testimony to its historical role as Capital of Brittany, a role
that goes back to pre-Roman times.
The History of the City
(not for those with short attention spans)
As one of the oldest-exisisting parliament seats in France, Rennes has
enjoyed a prominent role in the history of Brittany. As the 2,000 year-
old regional power seat, Rennes has seen many armies batter its walls,
Romans, French, English, Germans and Americans. Click
here to read about its story.
Le Parlement de Bretagne
The historic parliament of Brittany is a grand structure and played an
important role in the Breton mindset. Now, it is just a shell, surrounded by
massive cranes. It was gutted in a dramatic fire in 1994. Click here to read about one of the most tragic days in
the history of the city.
Architecture of the City
Rennes is rich in architecture, with examples dating from the 16th Century
to the present day. It is extremely lucky to have retained such buildings,
having suffered from a devastating fire in 1720, and escaped the fate of
others like Brest and St Malo during World War Two. Many of the buildings in
the centre date from the fire, and are good examples of work by Robelin,
Jacques, and Gabriel. Click here to discover more of
this aspect of the city
Museums of Rennes
Rennes has three museums, each definitely worth a visit. A pass for all
three museums is available, contact the museums for the latest price.
Musee des Beaux Arts
Musee de Bretagne
Ecomusee du Pays de Rennes
Other museums in the region
Castles in the Region
Click here to read about a few of
the many fortresses in the neighbouring area.
Copyright 1997 Association BUG
Adam Edwards and Oscar G.
Photos: DF
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