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Rennes is the region's capital and should be included in any visit to Brittany. It is ideally situated at the heart of a dual carriageway network linking Brittany to Paris and Normandy and to the areas south of the Loire divide.
The Parlement of Rennes
Before its annexation to France in 1532, Brittany had a superior court of law known as the Parlement, presided over by a "universal judge". Charles VIII married Duchess Anne of Brittany in 1491. A year later, he reorganised the existing court and established the "Grands Jours". It was in March 1554, via the Edict of Fontainebleau, that Henry II established the Parlement of Brittany, a sovereign and provincial court of justice, whose role was to "uphold the customs and traditions of ancient France's regions". Royal edicts were also registered there and the court had the right to remonstrance against the King if local traditions were not respected.
Half of the Parlement's magistrates were native Bretons and half were non-natives, as ordained by the King, who was concerned by the former's desire for independence.
A century of building work (1618-1709)
When, in 1561, the Parlement was set up in Rennes, King Henry II incited the parliamentary nobility to build a palace worthy of their new political and legal duties. The plans of Germain Gaultier (1571-1624), consisting of four main buildings, connected by four corner pavilions surrounding an interior courtyard, were revised by Salomon de Brosse who preserved granite for the lower storey, but chose white tuffeau (tufa) stone for the upper storey. On the building's façade, a balustrade joined the two corner pavilions, supported by a double flight of stairs leading to a terrace. This staircase gave parliamentary noblemen direct access to the prosecutors' room. The ground floor served as a prison at the time.
Although the building was erected in 1655, the carpenters, sculptors, gilders and painters did not arrive in Rennes for the decorative finishes until 1709.
Following the fire in 1720, Gabriel who was in charge of the rebuilding work, designed a royal square worthy of Brittany's Parlement building. He simplified the façade by removing the double flight of stairs, the terrace and the balustrade between the two corner pavilions, and erected Coysevox's statue of Louis XIV on horseback in the centre of the square. The palace bowing before the statue symbolised the parliamentarians bowing down before the King. The work also involved adding an inner staircase decorated with mascarons.
On 4 February 1994, a fire broke out in the night following clashes during a fishermen's demonstration. The fire smouldered behind the sun dial and finally caught the roof, burning the 17th-century oak framework and the vault of the Pas Perdus room. Some of the prestigious paintings, which were miraculously saved, have been restored to perfection.
The Appeal Court took up residence again on 4 October 1999. The restoration work in the interior and on the building façade enhanced the subtle diversity of colours so cherished in the 17th century, and was notably achieved with granite and Richemont stone, mascarons in the keystones, the sculpted frieze and the Maël-Carhaix "black" slate roof.
- Brittany's Parlement building – an outstanding example of the grand royal Parisian-style decor of the 17th century
- Main Chamber: magnificent interior decoration and a unique example of the pictorial art of this period.The ceiling in the Main Chamber was the work of Charles Errard, born in Nantes in 1606, who was the most celebrated painter at the time. He was assisted by Noël Coypel who then devoted his talent to Versailles and Fontainebleau. The coffered ceiling, designed in the Louvre workshops, was transported to Rennes along the canals. The central octagon features Justice and Religion along with the other virtues.
- Main Chamber Council : The carved wooden ceiling, completed in 1694, was the work of Jean-Baptiste Jouvenet (1644-1717). The central octagon depicts the triumph of Justice over the vices surrounded by Study, Knowledge, Equity and Piety.
- Inquiry Chamber : The ceiling paintings, sculpted by Pierre Dumesnil and François Gillet, were entrusted to Louis-Ferdinand Elle in 1706. In the centre, Justice is beckoning Religion for help. The four medallions represent allegories of Justice.The portrait of the Parlement's public prosecutor, Louis-René de Caradeuc de la Chalotais, hangs above the fireplace.
- Pas Perdus room :This room is reached by Gabriel's staircase, which features mascarons in the keystones. The door, which leads to the former Public prosecutors' room, depicts Justice laden with scales and the sword and Fortitude armed with a bludgeon. In the 17th century, the parliamentary nobility gained direct access to this room via the double-run staircase designed by Salomon de Brosse.
The doors to this floor bear the monogram of Louis-Philippe and the gallery's painted ceiling is decorated with the monogram of Napoleon and the bees of Hymettus, beside the ermine and the fleur-de-lis.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
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Palais of the Parlement of Brittany
place du Parlement-de-Bretagne
11 rue Saint-Yves – 35064 RENNES Cedex
- By foot
The Metropolitan district of Rennes has a wealth of heritage to interest visitors. The historic centre and outlying areas both offer an interesting variety of places to visit. Please visit our "Documentation" page to find out more.
- By bike :
170 kilometres of cycle paths take you directly to the district's key sights.Not forgetting the free bicycles, which you can jump on to explore the city.
Clear Channel France
Pont de Nemours (Métro République)
Tél. +33 (0)8 20 80 808
Website : www.clearchannel.fr
Good to know!
A free bike hire scheme (Vélostation) operates at the station and is open from 5am to 11pm ('Nord' train station)
Save time with the bus and underground network! You can use the same ticket for both! It takes only 3 minutes to cross the city centre from the main train or coach station to Place Sainte-Anne, the city's historic heart… even during rush hour!
Taxi
There are numerous taxi ranks available at the 'Nord' train station (Place de la Gare), 'Sud' train station (underground car park), Rue du Pré Botté (north bank) and city hall (north east corner of Place de la Mairie).
Parking
Please visit our "Documentation" page for information.
A word of advice!
To reach the city centre, park your vehicle in La Poterie car park (south-east of Rennes) or Kennedy car park (north of Rennes), and take the underground… République (city centre) is under 10 minutes away from La Poterie station and just 5 minutes from Kennedy underground station!