Ille-et-Vilaine is a department in the Brittany region of northwestern France. Its capital and largest city is Rennes, and the department stretches from the English Channel coast to a quieter inland landscape of farmland and villages. It makes a good base for a visit that moves between the sea, old stone towns and the countryside.
Heritage and towns
The department is known for its medieval heritage. The historic walled city of Saint-Malo is the best-known place here, with its ramparts and narrow streets rising above the water. Across the department there are also numerous châteaux, so a visit can easily mix a town stroll with a half-day spent visiting a country house.
Coast and countryside
Coastal attractions along the English Channel sit alongside an inland area that is largely agricultural. Visitors who enjoy walking, cycling or simply driving through open country will find a noticeable change of pace between the shore and the interior.
Rennes and student life
Rennes gives the department a lively urban centre and is home to one of France's major universities. This adds a steady student population to the city, which many visitors find a pleasant contrast to the older towns and rural areas nearby.
Ille-et-Vilaine suits travellers who want to combine several kinds of place in one trip: a university city, a fortified coastal town, historic houses and open farmland. Plan your route around the places that interest you most, since the department is spread out and the distances between its different areas can be significant.
