The Vilaine
by Mikebond
The river that flows through Rennes is the Vilaine, which also gives its name to the département of Ille-et-Vilaine, where the Breton capital city is located.
"Vilain" means "ugly, awful" or "bad" in French, but this doesn't seem to be the case of the Rennais river.
Breton Signs
by Goner
I thought it was interesting that the Breton language is the only Celtic language spoken on the continent. The Breton language is actually very similar to the Welsh language.
I noticed the Breton signs around Rennes, the The Breton language is beginning to show its presence in institutional life. The Côtes d'Armor and Finistère departments now provide bilingual signposts on all major department roads. .
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by dromosapien
"dromosapien"
Palais Saint Georges
- abbey, converted to a barracks during the Revolution and it is currently an office building
founded: 1032
constructed: 1663-1670
inscription: Magdelaine de La Fayette, abbess
architect: Pierre Corbineau (1600-78)
location: 2 Rue Gambetta
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"Basilique Saint Sauveur"
- basilica of the holy savior
constructed: 1703-64, delayed by a fire in 1720 it replaced a church that collapsed in 1682
architect: Francois Huguet (-1730) & Francois Andre Le Forestier
location: 2 Rue Saint Sauveur
"Opera de Rennes"
- a.k.a. Theatre de Rennes, opera house
constructed: 1836
architect: Pierre Louise & Charles Millardet (1800-47)
reonovated: 1997
"Hotel de Ville"
- city hall
constructed: 1734-43
architect: Jacques V Gabriel (1667-1742)
restored: 1912-14
location: Place de la Mairie
"Monument Aux Morts"
- a.k.a. Memoire des Soldats, monument to French soldiers who died in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), WWI (1914-18) and WWII (1939-45)
constructed: 1896
sculptor: Emmanuel Dolivet (1854-1901)
architect: Emmanuel Rene Le Ray (1859-1936)
location: Place de la Motte
"Esplanade du General de Gaulle"
- General de Gaulle plaza
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Le Liberte
- concert and sports arena
constructed: 1958-61 as Salle Omnisports
renovated: 2006-09
- architect: Olivier Jean
capacity: 3,200-5,200
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"Gare de Rennes"
- train station, rail service was extended to Rennes in 1857
constructed: 1993
architect: Thierry Le Berre