Visit Rennes in France | family activities

Are you looking for fun family activities to do in Rennes? Famous for its academic and cultural dynamism, Rennes blends heart and mind and is the ideal place for a leisurely stroll through its cheerful and surprising streets. Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France at the confluence of the Ille and the Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.

Its grand facades, concert halls, trendy restaurants and designer boutiques attract tourists.

Look no further! Here are some great suggestions for things to do with your kids during your visit to this beautiful city.

Visit the Parc du Thabor

Located in the heart of Rennes, the Parc du Thabor is a beautiful public park that offers a variety of activities for children of all ages. Take a stroll through the gardens, play a game of tennis or mini-golf, or simply relax on the grass.

If your kids love animals and nature, they’ll be thrilled to visit the Jardin des Plantes.

In Rennes the city is green by nature, with 868 hectares of green space. It is impossible to visit the Breton capital without stopping in one of the many flowery parks, including the famous Thabor.

But this is not the only Rennes garden that is worth a visit, here are the 5 parks where strolling is an art, and relaxing, a duty. this botanical garden is home to a variety of animals, including monkeys, flamingos, and a tropical greenhouse. It’s a great place to spend a sunny afternoon.

Watch a show at the Theatre National Bretagne

For a cultural experience that’s fun for the whole family, head to the Théâtre National de Bretagne. This theater hosts a variety of shows throughout the year, including plays, dance performances, and concerts. Directed by Arthur Nauzyciel since January 2017, the Théâtre National de Bretagne is a unique National Dramatic Center in the French cultural landscape: a European center for theatrical and choreographic creation whose season brings together more than 100,000 spectators for live performances.

The theater by the way hosts a major 3-week festival every November, a cinema and the Higher School of Dramatic Art.
TNB’s multidisciplinary program includes theatre, music, dance, circus, cinema (2 halls) and special offers for young audiences.

Visit the Musée des Transports Urbains

If your kids are fascinated by cars and trains, they’ll love the Musée des Transports Urbains. This museum is dedicated to the history of urban transportation, and features a variety of exhibits and interactive displays. In 1957, when France was eliminating almost all tram networks instead of modernizing them, a few enthusiasts decided to save these trams, in order to show future generations what urban transport was and its history.

They created the Association for the Museum of Urban, Interurban and Rural Transport (AMTUIR) and clubbed together to buy the motor car n°1 of Versailles, when the network was abolished on March 16, 1957.

In 2017, in this temporary space and with about half of the collection, the museum reopens once a month.

The Town Hall of Chelles once again confirms its desire to see the museum project succeed, in 2018, by registering it as part of the “Inventons la Métropole du Grand Paris 2” competition.

Take a stroll along the Vilaine River

For a beautiful view of the city, take a leisurely walk along the Vilaine River. You’ll pass by historical sites like the Pont Saint-Martin and the Hôtel Dieu, as well as modern attractions like the Champs Libres cultural center. The gentle slope of the Vilaine River was one of the first rivers in France to be canalized.

Construction of some weirs and lightning locks began in 1540, and a lock was planned at Rennes in 1610, but full-scale canal work did not begin until 1784. The Compagnie des Quatre Canaux, founded in 1821, completed the waterway in 1834.

The river is now entirely under the responsibility of the Brittany region and is managed under a concession agreement from the Institut pour l’Aménagement de la Vilaine. Effective January 1, 2010, all operational staff will be transferred to the area.

Cycle past ponds, lakes and forests such as the Bois de Cicé, all on the banks of France’s tenth largest river.

From the banks of the Vilaine, there are many barges, canoes and paddle boards floating on the water.

No matter what your interests are, there’s something for everyone in Rennes. Enjoy your visit!