City history
Explore the rich history of Rennes, from its Celtic roots as the territory of the Redones to its evolution as a vital administrative and transit hub in Brittany.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"Confluence of the Redones"
The settlement was established by the Redones, a Celtic tribe. The name refers to the confluence of rivers in the area inhabited by this specific group.
Confluence of the Redones
This name served as the administrative and settlement designation during the period of Roman occupation in the region of Gaul.
Derived from the Redones tribe
The name underwent various phonetic shifts over several centuries of Gallic and French linguistic influence until reaching its modern form.
Chapter two
France standardized its time across the national territory, aligning Rennes with the centralized Western European time standard.
As part of the French Republic, Rennes implemented national mandates to adjust clocks for daylight saving during the summer months.
Chapter three
The transfer of the Parliament of Brittany to Rennes cemented its long-standing status as the administrative and judicial capital of the duchy.
The introduction of horse-drawn and later electric trams transformed the temporal rhythm of urban movement and increased city connectivity significantly.
The opening of the Rennes Metro marked a new era in rapid, scheduled urban transit for the entire metropolitan area.