Rennes Local Customs

Breton is a Celtic language spoken by some of the inhabitants of Brittany in France. Today it is said that some 2 million people speak this language.
Although the Breton language is not universally used in Rennes it can still be seen in places, eg folk songs and some signs are also in Breton.
It is said that the language is becoming more and more popular in Britanny. It is even being taught in some schools.

People are rather friendly here, but you must really try and speak French. English is hardly spoken here.
Shops are closed at noon time and open again afterwards, shops are closed on sunday (the whole day) and monday morning. For buying food, you must go to the Intermarché (huge supermarket with normal prices).

The occupying German forces blew up Rennes' bridges in an attempt to delay the advancing American forces, but to no avail. The first American tank arrived in the Place de la Mairie at 10am on 4 August, thus making Rennes one of the first French cities to be liberated, a fact duly celebrated by its citizens. The people of Rennes also gave a warm welcome to General de Gaulle when he visited the city on 22 August, 1944.

Carnac is a small town of 4,000 people and is mostly known for its prehistoric megalithic monuments. A tour of the numerous megalithic monuments(alignments, dolmens etc) makes a fascinating excursion.
There is also The Museum of Prehistory in Carnac which covers prehistory from the lower Paleolithic (450 000 BC) to the early Middle Ages. There are lots of theories but no real proof of how these stone monuments ended up in this area.

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Here are the painted signs of two crêperies. You will see many of this decorated signs not only in Rennes, but also in the whole of Bretagne.

11, rue Saint Yves - CS 26410,
35064 Rennes

infos@tourisme-rennes.com