Rennes was originally called Condate. It was the chief town of the Gallic tribe of Riedones, before being colonized by Rome. By the end of the 3rd century, the city known as CivitasRiedonum had built its first 200-metre city wall. During the Middle Ages, the city's political power grew, as it successively became the fortress of the Marches de Bretagne, then the capital of the Duchy of Brittany. The Duchesne tower and the Mordelaises gates are the main fortified remains from the 15th century. Under the Ancien Régime, Rennes was the administrative capital of the province, with the Parliament of Brittany sitting here from 1561. In 1720, a huge fire destroyed the entire city center for 6 days. Nearly 9,000 half-timbered houses were destroyed. The old winding streets were replaced by straight lanes lined with stone houses. Two royal squares were created: today's bustling Place de l'Hôtel de Ville and Place du Parlement. The railroad arrived in 1857, opening up the city to the south. It was also at this time that Rennes began to develop its university vocation. Badly damaged by the bombings of the Second World War, Rennes began rebuilding in the 1950s. In 1970, it built France's first high-rise residential building: Les Horizons (94 meters high). Today, Rennes is a dynamic cultural city. Don't miss the Lices market on Saturday mornings, the Place Sainte-Anne with its colorful houses and the Parc du Thabor.

What to visit Rennes?

When to go to Rennes?

Rennes has so much to offer that it can be visited all year round. Museums are open all year round, as are parks and gardens. Cultural activities are spread throughout the year. The tourist reception is sufficient even during the peak of traffic. And if tourist numbers peak in summer, they remain spread over the rest of the year. In addition, the harsh winter weather and summer heat remain quite bearable. And know it, there is always something happening in Rennes on Sundays!

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Weather all year round

It is a mild temperate oceanic climate that prevails in Rennes, with mild winters, hot summers and rainfall below the national average. The Rennes basin is one of the least humid areas in Brittany. While winters are softened by the Gulf Stream, they remain a little more humid than summers, which are themselves moderately warm and quite sunny. Snowfall is very rare but Rennes records 65 days of fog per year.

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Pictures and images Rennes

Les quais de la Vilaine. Nanou prod - Fotolia
L'Hôtel de Ville de Rennes. JEROME DELAHAYE - FOTOLIA
Dans les rues de Rennes. EQRoy - Shutterstock.com
L'Opéra de Rennes. Monregard - Fotolia

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When to travel?

Rennes has so much to offer that it can be visited all year round. Museums are open all year round, as are parks and...
Read more about it

Weather forecast

It is a mild temperate oceanic climate that prevails in Rennes, with mild winters, hot summers and rainfall below the...
Read more about it

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