A historic and dynamic city
Rennes is one of the oldest cities in France and is located in the heart of Brittany. It is known for its historical buildings and monuments, as well as for its many attractions, including the Palais des Congrès, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Jardin des Plantes. The city is also known for its many cafes and restaurants, which offer local and international dishes. In addition, it is also known for its many festivals and cultural events, which attract thousands of visitors every year.
The best things to do in Rennes
Rennes offers a variety of activities for visitors. The city is famous for its many museums and art galleries, as well as for its many parks and gardens. There are also plenty of opportunities for shopping, with fashion stores and souvenir shops. Sports enthusiasts can take advantage of the city's proximity to stadiums and sports fields. The city is also known for its many festivals and cultural events, which attract thousands of visitors every year.
Where to stay in Rennes
Rennes offers a variety of accommodation options, ranging from luxury hotels to hostels. There are also many hotels and apartments for rent, which offer affordable rates. Visitors can also find more affordable accommodations at the city's hostels and campsites. Visitors can also enjoy the many bars and restaurants in town.
How to get around Rennes
Rennes is well served by public transport. The city has a network of buses and trams, which allows visitors to easily move around the city. There is also a taxi service and car rental services. Visitors can also get around by bicycle, thanks to a well-developed network of cycle paths.
More information on Rennes
Rennes is in the northwest of France, capital of Brittany and prefecture of Ille-et-Vilaine.
The population of the city is 209,860 (census of 2012), and its urban area has 690,467 inhabitants (2012 census).
The demographic situation of the city is changing at a very rapid rate, with the urban area welcoming more than 10,000 new residents every year.
Rennes is a town in northwestern France, capital of the Ille-et-Vilaine department and of the Brittany region. The city is located in Upper Brittany, eastern part of Brittany, at the confluence of the Ille and the Vilaine. Its inhabitants are called Rennais and Rennaises.
Located on the European Atlantic arc, 55 kilometers from the coast of the Channel, Rennes has 220,488 inhabitants within the city walls, which makes it the first city in the Brittany region, the second city in the Great West and the eleventh most populated municipality in France in terms of number of inhabitants. The urban unit is populated by 359,934 inhabitants in 2018 and its catchment area, which includes 747,156 inhabitants in 2018, is the tenth at the national level. Rennes is the seat of a metropolis of 451,762 inhabitants in 2018, thus being one of the eleven major French cities under common law (since January 2015).
In Gallo-Roman times, the city founded by the Riedones bears the Gallic name of Condate. The city saw its political power increase in the Middle Ages by successively becoming a fortress of the Marches of Brittany and then the capital of the Duchy of Brittany. Under the Ancien Régime, the union of Brittany with France gradually ranked Rennes as a major provincial city. The establishment of the Parliament of Brittany in Rennes in the 16th century and then of the Palace of the Parliament of Brittany in the 17th century, however, allowed Brittany to retain a certain autonomy with regard to the royal power of the time until the French Revolution. . Rennes notably played an important role in the Revolt of the stamped paper in 1675. Victim of a terrible fire in 1720, the medieval wooden center of the city was partially rebuilt in stone (granite and freestone). Remaining mainly rural until the Second World War, Rennes really developed in the 20th century.
From the 1950s, the town nicknamed "city of administrations" experienced an economic, urban and demographic boom linked to in particular to the rural exodus and to a new industrialization (automotive factory of PSA La Janais). During the 1980s and 1990s, Rennes acquired a strategic position in telecommunications (creation of Minitel and Transpac). It has since become an important hub of the tertiary sector by turning to digital and new technologies (Rennes Atalante technology park, Images and Networks competitiveness cluster, French Tech labeling, IRT b-com, choice of the VAL automatic metro). In 2018, the Rennes employment zone had 704,933 inhabitants. It is one of the most productive and dynamic in France, with an unemployment rate around 6.5% in 2018. This is corroborated by the fact that Rennes is, in 2011, the first provincial city for its production of wealth per inhabitant.
In addition to the demographic, historical and economic aspects, Rennes is one of the major French student cities, being in 2016 the eighth university city with nearly 66,000 students. Labeled city of art and history, it has preserved an important medieval and classical heritage within its historic center. 90 buildings are thus protected as historic monuments.
Rennes was ranked first in 2018 in the "ranking of cities in France where life is good" according to the magazine L'Express.
In 2019, Rennes joined the Fab City movement, following Barcelona Mayor Xavier Trias' call for all cities in the world to become self-sufficient by 2054.
Conclusion
Rennes is a dynamic city full of surprises. The city offers a variety of activities for visitors, ranging from museums and art galleries to festivals and cultural events. The city also offers a variety of accommodation options for visitors, ranging from luxury hotels to hostels. Finally, Rennes is well served by public transport, allowing visitors to easily get around the city.