Home of the Citroen Car

Rennes is the capital of the Bretagne region. Theand cafes which frequently offer entertainment in
city was consumed by fire in 1720 and was rebuiltthe form of traditional Breton music
in the severe classical style of the time. TheThough out the year there is an important
district of Rennes has preserved vast farm landsschedule of concerts, ballet, opera, and theatres.
in a fertile area and numerous natural sights,It has won Brittany acclaim as France's second
notably along the River Vilaine.region for gastronomy in terms of the number of
Local industries include car manufacturing andchefs featuring in the national restaurant guides.
telecommunications. Citroen is currently theThe Festival Gourmand, focusing on regional
largest employer of the population of Rennes.dishes and draws a hundred chefs from Rennes.
Rennes' old quarter, with its s cobblestone streetsEach year in Early July the city has a festival
and half-timbered, 15th and 16th centurycalled Les tombees de la nuit. The festival is
Renaissance and medieval houses, is the liveliestmassive and almost all of Rennes seems to come
part of the city. Cafes, boutiques and crepeand take part in the light and sound extravaganza.
houses occupy many of the old buildings and it isYou can catch a Concert in Breton or experience
here where you will find the most spirited nighta laser and light shown in the main squares.
life.The opera house of Rennes was built in the 19th
The man area of the nightlife and bar culture iscentury and is located in the centre of the town
centred in the older area to the north of theat the lovely place de la mairie. The Opera in
cathedral on two roads, rue St Michel, and rue StRennes aims to attractive a more youthful
Malo.audience. The Opera was fully renovated in 1997,
The main area of the nightlife and bar culturethe Rennes Opera building is a sight not to be
here is centred in the older area to the north ofmissed.
the cathedral. The nightlife tends to be in the bar