Rennes is the capital of the Bretagne region situated at the northwestern part of France. It is also the prefecture of the Ill-et-Vilaine department. The city has now almost 600,000 inhabitants compared to just over 200,000 ten years ago. The quick growth of the economy as well as the continuous beautification of the area spurred more immigrants and expatriates to start investing as well and enjoy the laid back side of Rennes.
Residential Places in Rennes
There are several hostels and rooms available at Canal St. Martin. Prices are generally cheap with a nice view of the canal and nearby park. The park also has facilities like an ice rink, a swimming pool and playground. You will also find more rooms around Place de la gare and Jean Janvier Avenue heading towards the north exit of the train station. Living conditions in these areas are relatively decent and there is very good access to public transit.
Furnished apartments are available at Citea Rennes. Angeline Hotel also features beautiful rooms complete with toilet and bath. There is a café, bar and restaurant on the ground floor too. Along Lundlow Street you will find typical French apartments with a great view of the city lights at night. Living in this area will also take you closer to the business district.
Suburban communities are found along the west and north side of the city. Here you will discover very old villas and homes. Some owners actually rent out their houses while others sell it completely. Residential communities usually have large front lawns with gardens in the backyard which are very conducive for retirees and families.
Hospitals and Universities in Rennes
The Centre de Medecine Physique Readaptation Notre Dame de Lourdes is located at 54, Rue St Helier. This is an old medical facility featuring some of the latest treatment approaches, diagnostic procedures and laboratory equipment. The Clinique de l’Esperance is located at 6, Rue Borderie which is known for quality patient care and state-of-the-art medical techniques and procedures. Patients from Rennes and other nearby communities usually go to these two institutes for immediate diagnosis and healing.
Other notable hospitals in Rennes include the Centre Hospitalier Regional et Universitaire or CHRU and Rennes University Hospital which has teaching programs and follow-up patient specialties.
Eductaional Facilities
There are two major universities in the city namely: Universite de Rennes 1 which focuses on science, technology, law, philosophy, medicine, economics and management and Universite Rennes 2 which focuses on art, literature, language, human and social science, sports and communication.
Other good educational institutions in Rennes include The Ecole Normale Superieure de Cacha, IRISA in the suburbs which is based in computer science and mathematics, the Grande Ecole Institute National des Sciences Appliquees, and The Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Rennes. These educational institutions have various programs and degrees offered and students also have the opportunity to continue postgraduate studies locally or abroad in affiliated schools.
Commercial Places in Rennes
There are several shopping hubs in the heart of Rennes. Centre Commercial Le Colombia is one of the main commercial areas featuring several shops and trinket stalls. The Body Shop is located at 2, Rue Motte Fablet featuring fragrances, lotions and other cosmetic products. L’Esprit Musee at 3, Rue Montfort is just one of the many labels available in the city. If you’re into scents, check out Marionnaud Parfumeries at 3, Rue Toulouse. This place offers original concoctions and other known perfume brands.
There are also several bars, cafes, bistros and restaurants all over Rennes. Just south of the river you will find Rue Vasselot. This restaurant serves light tasty snacks for on-the-go customers. Le Chouin at 12 rue d’Isly serves delicious fish and other seafood. This restaurant is found north of Centre Colombier and is open from Tuesday to Saturday.
Le Navira at 39 rue St-Georges serves authentic French cuisine with a nice outdoor ambiance just east of Palais du Parliament. Another great spot to try delectable seafood dishes is Le Parc a Moules at 8 rue Georges-Dottin. The price is rather expensive but the ambiance, service and taste make up for everything. Le Khalifa at 20 haut de la place des Lices serves original Moroccan dishes along with other French dishes. It is open every day of the week except Monday.
Service Establishments in Rennes
Transportation in Rennes is basically convenient and well-connected. The roads, railways and airways are well-maintained so travelers can easily go about or enter or exit the city anytime. The Rennes Metro has 15 stations in all measuring almost 10 kilometers long. Rennes is actually the tiniest city in the world with a metro. A second metro is currently being planned. The airport is located just southwest of the city in Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande commune.
Water and electricity are very well-maintained throughout the city by French private water companies like Veolia Water and SUEZ Environement. France Telecom is one of the top telecommunications company providing excellent telephone services all over Rennes. There are also so many internet service providers, cable operators and satellites in the area handled by private companies.
Embassies in Rennes
There are five British Consulate-Generals in France located in Paris, Lille, Lyon, Bordeaux and Marseille. UK expatriates as well as French locals can find information and other international transactions and interests in the British Embassy website at www.amb-grandebretagne.fr
The British Consulate-General in Marseille is available during weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm for consular and visa services. The Consulate-General in Marseille is located at 24 ave. du Prado 13006 Marseilles. The Consulate-General in Paris is located at 18bis rue d’Anjou 75008 Paris. The British embassy aims to help British Nationals work, invest and establish businesses in France as well as those who want to visit and get to know more about the beautiful country.
For enquiries, please contact the following numbers:
Telephone +33 (0) 1 44 51 31 00
Fax: +33 (0) 1 44 51 32 34
Marseille Telephone: 0491 157210
Marseille Fax: 0491 374706
Marseille E-mail: MarseilleConsuler.marseille@fco.gov.uk
Paris Telephone: 01 44 51 31 00
Paris Fax: 01 44 51 31 27
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