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Rennes
built 655 days ago
After Lille and Toulouse, Rennes is the third French city to introduce a VAL metro system (short for Véhicule automatique léger). The first line is a north-south route through the city centre. Construction work began in 1997. In mid-2000 track laying had begun and the first of 16 Matra trains were delivered in late-2000. After one week of "discovery service" the metro started operating regularly on 16 March 2002.
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Located at the confluence of the Ille and Vilaine rivers, 111 miles E of Quimper and 190 miles SW of Paris, the medieval city of Rennes is the capital of Brittany. The town was devastated by fire in 1720, sparing only a small portion of the original city. Today the city reflects the 18th-century reconstruction, with wide avenues radiating from place des Lices and place Ste-Anne. The city features three prominent religious structures the Cathedrale St-Pierre, completed in 1844, the 18th-century Eglise St-Sauveur and the Eglise St-Germain, located just south of rue St-George as well as a Neo-Classical opera house and the Parc du Thabor, once part of a Benedictine monastery.
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Anyone familiar with the story of Rennes-le-Château and the mysterious priest Sauniere has heard of a possible Christian church mystery involving the life of Jesus with Mary Magdalene as his wife. This theme appears in the controversial book 'The DaVinci Code' by Dan Brown. The true story may be similar to the fictional depictions of his book in more than one way with the priest Sauniere becoming very interested in several paintings by Nicolaus Poussin, one just happens to contain a rock that is being used as a step. In the background one can see mountains that appear very similar to the landscape of France.
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Rennes derives its name from a Celtic tribe, called the Riedones. The present site of Rennes, on the confluence of the Ille and Vilaine rivers was the political and religious seat of the tribe, spanning most of Brittany. It was conquered in 57bc by Julius Ceasar in his Western conquests that ended with the reprisal raid on Britain in 54bc. In general keeping with Roman policy, the site was Romanised, gaining the name Citivas Riedonum. The Riedones were quickly romanised, benefitting from the peace and superior development. As the Empire weakened, and attacks from Germanic tribesmen became a reality, some of the toughest fortifications ever built in the Roman Empire were constructed.
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The earliest historical mention of the See of Rennes dates from 453. One of the four prelates, Sarmatio, Chariato, Rumoridus, and Viventius who in that year took part in the Council of Angers, was Bishop of Rennes. One Athenius, Bishop of Rennes, took part in the Council of Tours in 461. Mgr Duchesne is of opinion that the St. Amandus reckoned among the bishops of Rennes at the end of the fifth century is the same as St. Amand of Rodez. Among other bishops are the famous St. Melanius (Melaine) who in 511 assisted at the Council of Orléans and had a widespread reputation for sanctity. He gave his name to a well-known abbey, which in the twelfth century possessed no less than seventy parish churches.
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Rennes, a city full of history and of arts, capital of Brittany, is often given the first prize for its quality of life. The hotel Océania, recently renovated, will confirm this statement! Calmness, comfort an The Aquatonic center with direct access with.more details
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