The charming city of Rennes, with its Medieval historic centre, beautiful piazzas, and incredible architecture, has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere and boasts lots to see and do. One thing that we recommend, in particular if you have found a vacation rental in Brittany and are exploring the city, however, is grabbing a good book, picking up a coffee and going for a wander and a sit in Parc du Thabor, one of France's most beautiful parks.
Elegant and romantic and well-planted with colourful flowers, it was previously part of the orchards of the former Benedictine abbey of St-Mélaine. In the 19th century, the park was redesigned by Denis Bühler, a famous 19th-century landscape artist, and boasts endless flowers, trees, a duck pond, a waterfall, a playground, a rose garden, an aviary, a bandstand, greenhouses and an orangery. Eventually opened as a public space it was originally only allowed to permit the entry of men but it now an integral part of city life and a beloved space that is open to all.
The name refers to Mount Tabor in Lower Galilee, Israel, a site that is said to have been the site of the transfiguration of Jesus and the park is located on the highest hill in Rennes, overlooking the city. It spans 10 hectares and is made up of French-style gardens and an English-style park. The impressive rose garden alone features over 2,000 varieties of roses and there are formal, landscape and botanical gardens and thousands of trees, as well.
In summer, all sorts of events take place in the gardens including classical concerts, musical theatre, poetry readings and more. It is an ideal place to wander the beautiful gardens or simply sit back and relax and a must-see for anyone who is exploring the city.
Parc du Thabor
Rue du Gén.-Guillaudot, 35000 Rennes
+33 2 23 62 19 40
Opening hours:
May-Aug: 7.30am-8.30pm
Mar and Sep: 7.30am-8pm
Rest of the year: 7.30am-6.30pm