Rennes

Rennes (the Condé of the Redones), the capital formerly of the province of Brittany, and now of the department of Ille-et-Vilaine, is situated at the confluence of those two rivers, 234 miles WSW. of Paris and 51 SSE. of St Malo. A seven days' fire in 1720 destroyed nearly 4000 houses, and the ancient walls have been superseded by pleasant promenades, so that the place wears a modern aspect. Four bridges connect the upper or new town and the lower or old town, and the most noteworthy of the public buildings are the cathedral, finished in 1844, and Italian in style; Notre Dame, with its dome surmounted by a huge image of the Virgin; the archbishop's palace (1672); the stately Palais de Justice (1618-54); the university buildings (1855), with a picture-gallery; the theatre (1835); the Hôtel de Ville, with a public library; and the Lycée. As the focus of main and branch lines of railway between Paris and the north-west of France, and commanding good river and canal navigation, Rennes is favourably situated for commerce; and, in addition to the transport of the abundant farm-produce of the neighbouring districts, it carries on a considerable trade in its own manufactures, which include sail-cloth, table-linen, &c. Pop. (1872) 48,658; (1891) 65,102. There is a standard history by Ducrest and Villeneuve.