Sainte-Anne Square

You are now on Saint-Anne Square. It is super charming with its row of multicolored facades ! When Rennes was surrounded by walls, this square was outside of the city, but was nonetheless quite lively. Its name could come from Anne of Britanny, as she celebrated her wedding to Charles 8th in the chapel of the Jacobins convent right in front of you. The convent is the building that skillfully mixes old and modern styles on the left. It was built in the 14th century, when Dominicans, also called Jacobins in France, decided to set up their convent in Rennes. Jean 4, duke of Britanny, was the one to lay the first stone in 1367. After the French Revolution, this religious site became public property, and was transformed into barracks, before housing the sports club of Rennes’ garrison. Then, the army sold the old convent, listed as a historic monument, for the symbolic sum of one euro to the municipality. Its 4,000 squaremeters of free adjustable space were rehabilitated as a congress center, right in this historical place. Next to it, is the Notre Dame de Bonne Nouvelle basilica, built to replace the old medieval church that was too small to welcome every parishioner. Its construction began in 1884, following this 13th century gothic style, and was inspired from the cathedrals of Chartres, Clermont and Amiens. Actually, the building isn’t finished! If you look closely, you’ll see details, revealing a wall or a vault, that weren’t ever built! Two gigantic gothic towers were also supposed to adorn this façade, however by lack of funds, their construction didn’t finish. That shouldn’t stop you from going inside! Its 28 meter vaults are the tallest in Britanny, and its decorations and stained glass windows are truly worth a look. Once you discovered all of its secrets, follow the street that runs alongside it on the right, to Bonne Nouvelle street, to continue on your tour of the city!