Métropole

Rennes

Capital of Brittany

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Highlights

Audioguided tours

These tours walk you through 8 emblematic places, allowing you to discover the heritage of the city in a simple, lively way and at your own pace.
Download audioguided tours on the website (free of charge) or rent an audio guide at the Tourist Office.

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Contemporary architecture

"Les Horizons", 18 rue de Brest

France's first high-rise building arose from the need to house almost one thousand people in 480 flats. The thirty-five storey twin-tower design proved the best solution.
This building was erected in 1970 and has become a recognised symbol which, towering at 100 metres, can be seen in the distance as you approach Rennes.

Barre Saint-Just, rue du Général Guillaudot

This building was designed in 1963 and completed in 1969. The original helm design was discarded as it would have been at odds with the landscape. The solution adopted to provide one hundred flats consisted of a cruciform design with four asymmetric wings converging into a pyramid shape. Vast patios lined with flower beds adorn the sides of the building and this unusual design has won Barre Saint-Just the nickname of "ocean liner".

Cité Judiciaire, 7 rue Pierre Abélard

In the early 1970s, a law complex was built to house the various courts dotted throughout the city. Brajon-Nicolas-Ressaussière's plans were chosen in 1981 and the work was completed in 1984. The design and the materials used conjure up the image of a spaceship or a fortress.

Salvatierra, rue Georges Maillols

This building, containing 43 flats over 5 floors, was built in 2001 by the architect J.Y. Barrier, using materials such as cob (roughly 300 tons in the south wall), wood and hemp. This organic residence is partly financed by European funds and targets energy savings of 75%.

Les Champs Libres, cours des Alliés

Standing on the Cours des Alliés, the Champs-Libres centre was designed by Christian de Portzamparc. This complex covers an area of almost 24,000 sqm. and houses three important cultural institutions: the 6-floor library, Espace des sciences (science museum) and its planetarium and the Musée de Bretagne, a museum covering 2,000 sqm. This immense centre, set in the heart of the city, was built using purple schist, concrete and glass, and combines traditional materials with a modern design.

Hôtel de Rennes Métropole, boulevard Clémenceau

Situated to the north of, and bordering, Avenue Henri Fréville, the Hôtel de la communauté d'agglomération was conceived and designed by P. Berger and J. Anziutti. This H-shaped building is almost 100 metres long and is mainly built of wood, glass and aluminium.