By

Day Seven: Historic Rennes | France Fully Loaded Cycle Tour 2019

Hot off the heels of my last Fully Loaded Cycle Tour in South Wales, and with barely a month just gone by, I was on to my next Cycle Tour in Brittany, North West France. As I didn’t have much time to plan & organise this trip I thought I would take a ‘go where the wind takes me‘ attitude as far as the camping bit goes and find sites along the way (I only had my last night’s campsite stay booked in so I didn’t miss my boat going back!) and after some research I found a great book which details the great ‘Green Ways‘ cycle routes around Brittany titled ‘Brittany’s Green Ways‘ published by Red Dog Books (see photo below) – I took the V2 cycle route from St-Malo to Rennes with a impromptu side trip going along the v4 route on the first day to see the abbey at Mont-Saint-Michel. Now I could chat away for ages about this trip, the weather was amazing, the overnight ferry, miles of off road cycle paths, the food… ahh.. it was like a holiday mixed in with cycle touring – just plain brilliant, but without further ado, here are the photos! 🙂

Arrival at my campsite for the next two nights - Camping Gayeulles, Rennes!
My pitch at Camping Gayeulles - not as spacious as some campsites but friendly & clean enough!
These unusual cabin's are custom-built shipping containers called 'Citylodges' and are available to rent at a range of different prices - if you didn't want to camp that is!
Even has a balcony!
The Camping Gayeulles is right bang in the middle of the big park 'Parc des Gayeulles', this huge mural is in one of the picnic areas of the park
Modern bit of housing I spotted just outside the park
This building was in the middle of demolition - that cool mural will be no more by the time you read this
On my way into the centre of Rennes I was waiting by the traffic lights, perched on my bike, I look up and see this awesome mural!
Another cycle tour accomplished! yours truly posing outside the Palais du Commerce, Rennes
The gorgeous 'Palais du Commerce' built from 1885 to 1929 by municipal architects Jean-Baptiste Martenot then Emmanuel Le Ray
Looking up towards the Place de la Mairie and the lively city of Rennes
Le petit Bacchus Bar, sounds familiar...
Rue Pont aux Foulons - 'Old Rennes' The part of the old town that escaped the great fire of 1720 and still has houses dating from 15th/16th Century
Authentic half-timbered house in Rue Rallier du Baty
Artisan Boulangerie - traditional French bakery
Looking onto the rue du Champ-Jacquet - good spot for a 'bike pose' shot ;)
Place du Champ Jacquet - the bronze statue of Jean Leperdit (1752-1823), the mythical mayor of Rennes who saved prisoners sentenced to death during the Reign of Terror (1790s)
A couple taking in the street life of Rennes from their balcony
Rue Rallier du Baty - had a wonderful last meal in Rennes at this pizza restaurant sitting under that black canopy!
On the same street, Rue Rallier du Baty, interesting foliage on this building!
It's great walking around the cobblestoned street of Rue des Dames and admiring the architecture
Amazing bit of architecture on the Place des Lices
Cathedral Saint-Pierre de Rennes - a Roman Catholic church c.1845