bikes

So for the JEMP (as they say here in Rennes) I got myself a city-bike for the weekend (10 EUR/day) at the Maison du vélo next to the train station to explore the city a bit. Weather forecast was favourable-ish, with the usual disclaimer about this being Britanny and all that.

First stop: the Jacques-Cartier prison. Closed in the early naughties, a bit in a state of disrepair. Apparently it was super-popular, I had to queue 45 mins in the drizzle – for about a 30 min visite. Probably more “fun” for kids, though the historic panopticon design is eye-catching.


Prison Break! Fortunately they left the doors open in Jacques-Cartier.

Vilaine river with boats

After that I cruised out to the etangs, and the long way back along the Vilaine right into the heart of the city, through and out the other and to the Musée des Transmissions. Mostly military, but they have two Enigmas and some other interesting gear.

On the second day, Brittany was very Brittany in the morning, so I didn’t bike out the 10km to the Sunday market in Betton (why would I, given that the Rennes Saturday market is the second biggest in France!) and didn’t get out until the afternoon guided tour at the Centre Hospitalier Guillaume Régnier, a huge psychiatrique complex. I was a bit worried that they wouldn’t let me out again…Not much historic buildings, and a bit too much French and medical history. Included a stint at Bois Perrin, the historic childrens’ section that will be revamped into a low-carbon quarter.

garden with chapel tiles

Impressions at Centre Hospitalier Guillaume Régnier.

Weather looking nice, I biked out across the Rochade to the Écomusée de la Bintinais, a historic farm with animals, guerilla cooking and a museum. Ironic that you’d have the constant hum of the highway in the background, and the “thermal power-plant” (vulgo: waste incinerator) in the background.

meadow with cows
La Vache Qui Rit somewhere on the horizon at Bintinais

Dropped off the bike an hour early back at the train station, which was the right choice since it started piXXing down not much later.

Construction on Pleine de Baud Rennes train station

Dramatic weather at Plaine de Baud and the train station.

9/10, would do again, but probably spend more time adjusting the bike/height of the saddle. Also I think I finally get the hang of NextCloud photo management, but more automation is needed…