THABOR PARK

Located 56 meters above sea level, the Parc du Thabor is Rennes' green jewel. Originally, it was an orchard and garden belonging to the monks of one of Rennes' oldest abbeys. In the ^19th century, Denis and Eugène Bühler transformed it into a park. Spanning 10 hectares in the heart of the city, the Thabor is home to a formal garden, a picturesque garden with exotic species, a botanical garden, an English landscape garden, fountains, statues, greenhouses... The botanical garden features 3,000 species and an immense rose garden (over 980 varieties). The ponds and statues give it a unique character. Also worth a visit are the Orangerie greenhouses, designed in 1862 by Martenot and bombed in 1944. A unique blend of architectural styles, they are now used for exhibitions. In spring, it's pleasant to sit on a bench and read a few pages of a good novel in the shade of the linden trees, whose subtle fragrance perfumes the air. Children can enjoy the recently refurbished wooden playground, the kiosk designed by Martenot, the aviary and its inhabitants, or the many animals that dot the paths: free-roaming ducks or chickens in their own enclosure. The café-restaurant "La Terrasse du Thabor" offers a lovely shady spot for a drink or lunch. The park is listed as a prestigious garden. In summer, you can enjoy free shows with "Un dimanche au Thabor" or the festivities called "Tombées de la Nuit" in early July.