Home

Rennes

Mayor

Nathalie Appéré

Biography

View old mayors

The territory of the current city of Rennes and the Ille-et-Vilaine department are known to have been inhabited since 2^nd century BC by the Gallic tribe Redones. Later occupied by the Romans, the settlement was known as Civitas Riedonum, from which today’s name of the city derives.

Surrounded by brick wall as a protective measure to the barbarian treat in 275, it remained until the final days of the Roman era in the fifth century one of the last bastions of the Western Roman Empire. In the mid fifth century the Holy See of Rennes was established here.

Later, as Bretons occupied the western part of the Armorican peninsula, the Franks conquered the rest of Armorica. As a counteract, the Carolingian dynasty established a Breton March, composed of Rennes, Nantes and Vannes, which by the 9^th century was fully absorbed by the Kingdom of Brittany. Despite the existence of the latter as an independent state, Rennes was considered one of the three capitals and venue to the coronations of the dukes of Brittany. It was only in 1491 when Brittany was brought to the French kingdom by the force of the marriage of the Duchess Anne of Brittany and Charles VIII, which guaranteed some freedom and survival of existing practices and arrangements, including the Parliament of Brittany.

The latest development of the city is connected to the building of a railway station in 1857 and the establishment of the University of Rennes in 1885. Among the negative episodes to mention are the Dreyfus affair, the second trial of whom took place here in 1899 and the heavy damages during the Second World War. However, during the second half of the twentieth century, Rennes was among the fastest growing cities in France.

France / Rennes / Digital transformation / Green City

Get to know a tree in Rennes, with the help of an interactive map

38,000 of these fellas help to purify the city air, so why not become friends with them?

Jan 26, 2023 14:03

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

France / Rennes / Development / Politics and Reforms

Rennes forces developers to put balconies on every new building, thanks to Covid

The city has also drafted its citizens’ charter, one of the first such documents in France, to give extra power to the people

Jan 09, 2023 15:34

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

France / Rennes / Digital transformation

A collaborative platform to ease traffic in Rennes

The solution’s effectiveness depends on the involvement and collaboration of all urban traffic participants

Jun 11, 2021 16:23

Aseniya Dimitrova

Belgium / Cyprus / Czechia / France / Italy / Latvia / Poland / Romania / Spain / Alba Iulia / Brussels / Lublin / Nicosia / Plzen / Rennes / Riga / Economy and Finance / Energy efficiency

EURE: a European project contributing to sustainable growth

Improving the way the ERDF addresses environmental urban challenges of cities in peripheral regions, with international cooperation

Mar 30, 2021 10:00

TheMayor.EU

France / Grenoble / Montpellier / Paris / Rennes

France: 28 communities call for support of migrant rescue operations

Representatives, including the Mayor of Paris, will provide aid to a migrant rescue association SOS Méditerranée

Jan 21, 2021 15:38

Aseniya Dimitrova

Amiens / Caen / Cannes / Grenoble / Montpellier / Nice / Noisy-le-Grand / Paris / Perpignan / Rennes / Economy and Finance / Welfare and Health

France returns to lockdown on Friday

It will last for at least a month

Oct 29, 2020 08:31

Aseniya Dimitrova

Amiens / Caen / Cannes / Grenoble / Montpellier / Nice / Noisy-le-Grand / Paris / Perpignan / Rennes / Welfare and Health

France: wearing a mask in closed public spaces becomes mandatory on Monday

The measure was initially meant to come into force on 1 August

Jul 16, 2020 10:13

Aseniya Dimitrova

Amiens / Caen / Cannes / Grenoble / Montpellier / Nice / Noisy-le-Grand / Paris / Perpignan / Rennes / Mobility

2 million train tickets of under 10 euros promote the attractiveness of France

This summer, the French railways invite us to discover the beauty of the country's regions

Jun 12, 2020 09:36

Aseniya Dimitrova

Amiens / Caen / Cannes / Grenoble / Montpellier / Nice / Noisy-le-Grand / Paris / Perpignan / Rennes / Development / Education and Sport

France begins lifting lockdown restrictions today

At a press conference held on Thursday, the Prime Minister confirmed that the French de-escalation strategy is starting on 11 May

May 08, 2020 11:56

Aseniya Dimitrova

Cannes / Nice / Paris / Rennes / Culture and Tourism / Economy and Finance

French cities distribute free reusable masks to everyone

Local authorities are getting ready for the post-lockdown lifestyle

Apr 22, 2020 12:56

Aseniya Dimitrova

France / Amiens / Caen / Cannes / Grenoble / Montpellier / Nice / Noisy-le-Grand / Paris / Perpignan / Rennes / Politics and Reforms / Welfare and Health

France goes on lockdown, too

The 2nd round of local elections is postponed, the pension reform is suspended

Mar 17, 2020 08:50

Aseniya Dimitrova

France / Amiens / Cannes / Grenoble / Montpellier / Nice / Paris / Rennes / Politics and Reforms

French mayors praise announcement for increased decentralization

This comes in response to the willingness to transfer more responsibilities from the State to the local authorities, announced President Macron last week

Apr 26, 2019 17:01

Aseniya Dimitrova

France / Amiens / Cannes / Grenoble / Montpellier / Nice / Paris / Rennes / Culture and Tourism

What is Fondation du Patrimoine

Find more about the organization dedicated to saving the French heritage, including Notre Dame de Paris

Apr 25, 2019 13:53

Aseniya Dimitrova

France / Amiens / Cannes / Grenoble / Montpellier / Nice / Paris / Rennes / Welfare and Health

French mayors demand swift actions for accommodation of refugees

This Wednesday the mayors of several French cities, including Anne Hidalgo, proposed that the State should implement a joint policy in favour of refugees and migrants’ accommodation

Apr 25, 2019 10:42

Aseniya Dimitrova