Dates TBD

Please note that this is a work in progress and not yet confirmed.

As a reminder, this is simply a survey to gauge interest in attending and planning activities.  An attendance fee will be determined once we have developed an itinerary.

Coming soon! Be sure to fill out the survey (above) to help us with planning, which will help determine attendance fees. Our goal is to keep the cost as low as possible.

Where to stay

OUR OFFICIAL HOTEL
Hôtel de Nemours
5, rue de Nemours

Other lodging options:

Balthazar Hotel and Spa
rue du Maréchal Joffre

Hôtel de Nemours
5, rue de Nemours

Mercure Rennes Centre Parlement
1 rue Paul-Louis Courier

Novotel Spa Rennes Centre Gare
22 avenue Janvier

Mercure Rennes Centre Gare Hotel
1 rue du Capitaine Maignan

Marnie and Mr. H
3 rue du Chapitre

Airbnb - many options to choose from!

How to get from Paris to Rennes

Please be advised that there are planned rail strikes that could affect travel. Find up-to-date information here. If you'll be using a mobile phone while in France, please add the phone number to the registration form where indicated. This will help to keep the group connected in case of emergencies, car pooling, etc.

Train
The TGV (train à grande vitesse) runs directly to Rennes from Terminal 2 at Charles De Gaulle or from Montparnasse in Paris.

Information and schedules may be found here. Select “Paris Airport, France (CDG)” or “Paris, France” for the Montparnasse station. Tickets may be purchased in advance. Reservations are recommended. The train station is minutes away to the center of Rennes. There is construction at the Rennes train station, but follow signs to the taxi stand.  Download the SNCF app here.

Flights
The Rennes Bretagne Airport operates direct and indirect flights throughout the year to 120 destinations. The airport is located outside of the city. Plan to take a taxi to your hotel. A journey from the airport to the center of Rennes is about EUR 18 (during the day) to EUR 20 (at night).

Car Rentals
If you are planning to rent a car and your hotel doesn’t offer parking, you can find parking information here. You can  also reserve a spot through this vendor.

Museums

Musée des beaux-arts
20, Emile Zola Dock

Musée des beaux-arts is a municipal museum of fine arts in the French city of Rennes, the capital of Brittany. Its collections range from ancient Egypt antiquities to the Modern art period and make the museum one of the most important in France outside Paris, notably for its paintings and drawings holdings, and for SYA, eight of the series of 16 Le roi vu par le Peuple, acrylique sur toile, 100 x 80 cm, by J.P. Lemée.
 

La Criée – Centre d'art contemporain
Place Honoré Commeurec

This contemporary art center is based on Place Honoré Commeurec in Rennes city center, in the central market building that was designed by architect Emmanuel Le Ray in 1923. With its four creative platforms (Art at the Centre, Looking to the Future, On Continental Shores, and Territories in the Making), La Criée brings art to the general public via exhibitions, artist residencies, conferences, seminars, workshops and events.

The Champs Libres
10, cours des Alliés

The Champs Libres, an innovative cultural center designed by architect Christian de Portzamparc in the heart of Rennes, is home to the Brittany Museum, the Science Centre and the library of Rennes Metropolitan District. The Champs Libres is a unique and exciting blend of science and art that offers visitors a plethora of experiences and perspectives. With exhibitions and installations, visual arts, digital arts and literary and artistic performances, this is a truly vibrant cultural center.

The Brittany FRAC
19, avenue André Mussat

Whether you are a connoisseur or just curious, at Brittany's Regional Contemporary Art Fund (FRAC), you'll find a collection of contemporary works that will catch your imagination and open your mind to artists from a variety of backgrounds. The aims of the Brittany FRAC are to collect, showcase and raise awareness of the work of contemporary artists. It has built up one of the largest collections of contemporary art in France, with some 4,800 pieces. The Brittany FRAC promotes access to all forms of contemporary creation for people of all ages. It displays a wide variety of works by French and international artists. Alongside more well-known names such as Raymond Hains and Jacques Villeglé, talented young artists are leaving their own mark on our era. The premises of the Brittany FRAC, designed by architect Odile Decq, house an extensive program of temporary exhibitions.

Historical Sites and Monuments

City Hall
Place de l'Hôtel de ville

Did you know that Rennes has its own Panthéon? Come and admire this fascinating memorial in the City Hall. After the fire in 1720, Jacques Gabriel, architect to the king, planned to bring together the city hall, judicial tribunal and clock tower in a single building on a new square. Its concave shape brings to mind buildings designed by the great architects Le Vau and Hardouin-Mansart. It perfectly complements the convex opera house opposite. Famous Breton figures such as Duguay-Trouin, Laënnec, Renan and Chateaubriand are all depicted in its great hall.

Parlement de Bretagne
Place du Parlement de Bretagne

Although the Parlement of Brittany building may seem like a solid part of the city's history that has survived the ages untroubled, in reality it might never have been able to open its doors to visitors today. The building has certainly had an eventful past. Designed by Salomon de Brosse, it was spared in the great fire of 1720, only to be partly burnt down in 1994. Extensive restoration and renovation work have since given a new lease of life to the historical building, which houses several fine examples of 17th-century French pictorial art. One night was luckily not enough to destroy a century of building work! Inside, the Parlement building boasts prestigious French-style ceilings, sculpted gilded wood panelling and allegorical paintings, culminating in the magnificent Grand'Chambre, or main chamber. Please note: prior to each tour, a film about the fire and the work to restore the building is shown at the tourist information center.

Palais du Commerce
Place de la république

The river Vilaine was canalised in the mid-19th century, with a covered stretch between the Nemours and Berlin bridges that was officially opened in 1912 by the mayor Jean Janvier. An imposing palace was built here between 1885 and 1929 by Jean-Baptiste Martenot and later Emmanuel Le Ray. The building was commissioned by the mayor Edgar Le Bastard to make the southern part of the city more attractive. It originally housed the Trade Exchange and the post and telegraph office.

Portes Mordelaises
6 Rue des Portes Mordelaises

A castle entrance gate with two towers, defended by a drawbridge and featuring two smaller gates for carriages and pedestrians, once led to Mordelles. This symbolic setting was where the future Dukes of Brittany swore an oath to defend Brittany's freedoms. The mediaeval walls to the west were built on the site of a third-century wall. An artillery platform was added on the fortified gateway (or barbican) to protect this entrance to Rennes.

Saint-Yves Chapel
11 rue Saint-Yves

Saint-Yves Chapel houses the city's architecture and heritage discovery centre. The permanent exhibition "Rennes, a City of Art and History" in the restored 15th-century chapel tells the story of the city through its heritage, as depicted in photos, models, pulpits and headstones.

OUTDOOR SPACES

Marché des Lices
Place des Lices

Calling all food lovers, connoisseurs, gourmets and culinary enthusiasts – the Marché des Lices is guaranteed to get your taste buds tingling! Discover for yourself the fabulous selection of fresh, delicious produce from vegetables to cheese, cider, fish and much more.

Every Saturday at dawn, the Marché des Lices – France's second largest market – comes to life, bringing you the very freshest, finest produce. The stalls explode with colors, smells and tastes. Come along and soak up the wonderfully festive atmosphere! Don’t forget the galette saucisse!

Parc du Thabor
Place Saint-Melaine

Enjoy strolling around one of France's most beautiful parks. As you explore the wonders of the Thabor gardens, you'll be drawn to the romantic, elegant atmosphere. Here even "L'Enfer" – which means "hell" in French – is a delightful open-air theatre venue. The former garden of the monks of Saint-Melaine Benedictine Abbey was redesigned by Denis Bühler, a famous 19th-century landscape artist. Spanning 10 hectares, it boasts French-style gardens, an English-style park, a cave, bandstand, aviary and an impressive rose garden featuring over 2,000 varieties!

Le Vélo Star
Rent a bike from one of the many stations located across Rennes. Learn more here. See the map of location rentals here.

Rennes’ culinary landscape, while French at heart, offers an impressive number of award-winning restaurants and local flavor. Alumni, staff and faculty favorites are marked with *

Please stay up to date on what is necessary for entering and traveling within France. For updates on COVID regulations and necessary documents, please visit this page. 

Please also visit our school's updates on the pandemic.