looking down the aisle from under the organ of the sumptuous golden Cathédrale Saint-Pierre, Rennes, Brittany, France
“Cathédrale Saint-Pierre”, “St Peter’s Cathedral” The site has been used for a cathedral more or less from the beginnings of the see in the 6th century. The earliest building was completely replaced by a Gothic cathedral in the 12th century, of which in 1490 the tower and the entire west front collapsed. The existing façade with its neoclassical granite towers in four stages was constructed over the next two centuries or so, with long gaps between the different stages: the lowest level was built between 1541 and 1543, the second from 1640 to 1654 (by Tugal Caris), and the fourth (by Pierre Corbineau) from 1654 to 1678. Yet another architect, François Hoguet, completed the towers, between 1679 and 1704, at their present height of 48 metres and added the device of Louis XVI between them. The nave and choir however had not been restored. During vespers on 11 February 1754 a great stone fell from the roof of the choir, and it was decided, before the entire body of the cathedral collapsed, to demolish all these parts and rebuild them. The demolition was carried out between 1756 and 1768, leaving only the towers and west front standing. Rebuilding began in 1787, shortly after which the French Revolution began and all work was suspended. It did not recommence until 1816, initially under the supervision of the architect Mathurin Crucy. He died in 1826; the work was continued under the local architect Louis Richelot, and finished in 1845. The original decoration was in a plain neo-classical style, but during the 19th century it was extensively refurbished with gilt, stucco and paintings (inspired by those in the Parliament of Rennes) to create a more sumptuous appearance. Characteristic of this cathedral is the contrast between the rich decoration, including, in front of the altar, slabs of rare marble from the Roman Forum, a gift from Pope Pius IX, and the sombre granite of the structure. cathedralerennes.catholique.fr/info/cathedraleStPierre.html
Rennes, capital of Brittany. The ancient settlement of Condate, built at the confluent of the Ille and Vilaine rivers in the first century B.C., was probably founded by the Redones, the people of Armorica, and the Romans, the new masters of the whole of Gaul. At the end of the third century, the town known as “Civitas Riedonum” was given its first 1200m-high city wall. In the 15th century, the town’s rapid growth led to the construction of two further city walls to the north-east and south of the Vilaine, increasing the area of the walled city from 9 to 62 hectares. The Tour Duchesne and Portes Mordelaises are the main fortified remains from this period.
The Metropolitan district of Rennes comprises 43 towns and villages including the city of Rennes and today has a population of almost 416,000 (the third greatest population increase in western France), spread over some 67,000 hectares (598 inhabitants per km). After the influx of 45,000 inhabitants over the past 15 years, a further rise of 60,000 is expected between now and 2015. This population growth can be witnessed in Rennes, across the département and throughout Brittany as a whole. “Greater Rennes” stretches out around the central city, which has 210,000 inhabitants and is separated from the rest of the district by a green belt. This style of town planning has preserved the essentially rural identity of the suburban towns and villages. The Metropolitan district of Rennes has preserved vast farmlands in a fertile area along with numerous natural sites, notably along the River Vilaine and its tributaries.
The distinctive centre of Rennes blends seamlessly into the district’s contemporary urban fabric, thanks to a tried and tested planning policy which favours natural spaces and emphasises public transport and environmentally friendly ways of getting around such as the metro and cycling. www.tourisme-rennes.com/en/home.aspx
looking down the aisle from under the organ of the sumptuous golden Cathédrale Saint-Pierre, Rennes, Brittany, France
“Cathédrale Saint-Pierre”, “St Peter’s Cathedral” The site has been used for a cathedral more or less from the beginnings of the see in the 6th century. The earliest building was completely replaced by a Gothic cathedral in the 12th century, of which in 1490 the tower and the entire west front collapsed. The existing façade with its neoclassical granite towers in four stages was constructed over the next two centuries or so, with long gaps between the different stages: the lowest level was built between 1541 and 1543, the second from 1640 to 1654 (by Tugal Caris), and the fourth (by Pierre Corbineau) from 1654 to 1678. Yet another architect, François Hoguet, completed the towers, between 1679 and 1704, at their present height of 48 metres and added the device of Louis XVI between them. The nave and choir however had not been restored. During vespers on 11 February 1754 a great stone fell from the roof of the choir, and it was decided, before the entire body of the cathedral collapsed, to demolish all these parts and rebuild them. The demolition was carried out between 1756 and 1768, leaving only the towers and west front standing. Rebuilding began in 1787, shortly after which the French Revolution began and all work was suspended. It did not recommence until 1816, initially under the supervision of the architect Mathurin Crucy. He died in 1826; the work was continued under the local architect Louis Richelot, and finished in 1845. The original decoration was in a plain neo-classical style, but during the 19th century it was extensively refurbished with gilt, stucco and paintings (inspired by those in the Parliament of Rennes) to create a more sumptuous appearance. Characteristic of this cathedral is the contrast between the rich decoration, including, in front of the altar, slabs of rare marble from the Roman Forum, a gift from Pope Pius IX, and the sombre granite of the structure. cathedralerennes.catholique.fr/info/cathedraleStPierre.html
Rennes, capital of Brittany. The ancient settlement of Condate, built at the confluent of the Ille and Vilaine rivers in the first century B.C., was probably founded by the Redones, the people of Armorica, and the Romans, the new masters of the whole of Gaul. At the end of the third century, the town known as “Civitas Riedonum” was given its first 1200m-high city wall. In the 15th century, the town’s rapid growth led to the construction of two further city walls to the north-east and south of the Vilaine, increasing the area of the walled city from 9 to 62 hectares. The Tour Duchesne and Portes Mordelaises are the main fortified remains from this period.
The Metropolitan district of Rennes comprises 43 towns and villages including the city of Rennes and today has a population of almost 416,000 (the third greatest population increase in western France), spread over some 67,000 hectares (598 inhabitants per km). After the influx of 45,000 inhabitants over the past 15 years, a further rise of 60,000 is expected between now and 2015. This population growth can be witnessed in Rennes, across the département and throughout Brittany as a whole. “Greater Rennes” stretches out around the central city, which has 210,000 inhabitants and is separated from the rest of the district by a green belt. This style of town planning has preserved the essentially rural identity of the suburban towns and villages. The Metropolitan district of Rennes has preserved vast farmlands in a fertile area along with numerous natural sites, notably along the River Vilaine and its tributaries.
The distinctive centre of Rennes blends seamlessly into the district’s contemporary urban fabric, thanks to a tried and tested planning policy which favours natural spaces and emphasises public transport and environmentally friendly ways of getting around such as the metro and cycling. www.tourisme-rennes.com/en/home.aspx