Capital of Brittany, Rennes is a great destination for a weekend with friends. A city of human size, young and dynamic, it has a rich historical heritage. Strolling through its streets and alleys, you can take a camera to immortalize the beautiful facades of the half-timbered houses, the Renaissance buildings and other private mansions. A weekend in Rennes is an opportunity to enjoy its abundant cultural life, its museums, its gastronomy, its green spaces and its festive atmosphere in the evening. Here is a sample of what awaits you during a getaway in the largest city of Ille-et-Vilaine.
Enjoy the Parc du Thabor and its botanical garden
Rennes is a very well served city. Flixbus buses allow you to reach it at a lower cost. There is no doubt that once you have packed your bags, you will want to enjoy beautiful walks in its sublime historical center. Rennes has been awarded the "City and Country of Art and History" label since 1986. You will then want to stop in a café to enjoy a glass of cider or chouchen.
If you want to get away from it all for a while, you will have the choice: Rennes has no less than 868 hectares of green spaces. The most impressive of these is the Thabor Park, classified as a "prestige garden". On a surface of more than 10 hectares, inhabitants and visitors like to spend time there to stroll and recharge their batteries. Pleasant in any season, the place combines an English-style park, greenhouses and a French-style garden, a rose garden and a botanical garden that reveals no less than 3,200 species from the 5 continents. Waterfalls and sculptures of classical inspiration complete the decor. It is an essential stop to take a breath of fresh air.
Discover the Champs Libres, not far from the Rennes train station
A few steps away from the Rennes train station is a building with a daring architecture, the Champs Libres. This facility of the Rennes Metropole agglomeration community attracts each year more than a million visitors who are thirsty for culture. The Champs Libres is the largest cultural establishment in Brittany and has a library with numerous documents to consult or borrow. It also gives access to the press and to a wide digital offer (streaming, electronic books, etc.). All this with a superb view on the city!
The museum of Brittany is located on thefirst floor and houses an important collection of objects and documents, jewels, sculptures, photographs and everyday objects, presenting the history of Brittany from prehistoric times to the present day.
Don't forget to visit the Science Space, which includes a planetarium, a permanent exhibition on the brain and Merlin's Laboratory, a space dedicated to scientific experiments for children. Finally, don't forget to check the program of the Champs Libres before going there, because the place offers all year long projections, exhibitions, meetings, concerts, etc.
Taste the unavoidable specialties of Rennes
A weekend with friends in Rennes would not be perfect without enjoying a few moments around the table. Rennes is full of nice places to discover its main specialties. Among the unmissable ones are
the "poule Coucou" (cuckoo chicken), famous for its generous flesh with a nutty taste,
the frigousse, a delicious dish prepared in a casserole dish with farm chicken, bacon, chestnuts, onions, nutmeg and cardamom,
the Rennes pâté, made with pork,
without forgetting the galette saucisse, a religion in Rennes!
Many restaurants put seafood on the menu. Yes, we are in Brittany! The followers can therefore enjoy mussels, scallops, oysters, scampi or lobster
