This is a pleasant run combining three medium-sized parks near the center of Rennes, using decent roads to connect them. Starting in central Rennes near the Tourist Office, head north on Rue Saint-Malo for 0.5 km to the Saint-Martin Prairies, which is sort of a linear park of paths through open terrain. Stay on the paths headed north for 3 km, and then turn RIGHT on La Coulée Verte (path) for 0.5 km to connect to Rue de Saint-Laurent, which heads east for 0.5 km to Parc des Gayeulles, which is Rennes’ central park. It’s ~2 km through the park, with options for more (there are marked 6k and 10k loops), on paths through fields, woodland, and around some small lakes. Note: the section leading to Parc des Gayeulles is hilly.  There are kiosks in the park with maps & good facilities.
At the rotary at the south end of the park, head south on Bd, Raymond Poincaré, through the pleasant Parc de Maurepas, and then by the Stade Courtemanche, which has a nice running track. Then use Bd. Metz south, and RIGHT on Rue Palestine to access Parc du Thabor — a classic 18th-century park with large, landscaped gardens & aviaries (note: very hilly!). Then return to the center.

Historic center. Mark Lowenstein

Add-Ons: 

  • Explore the mainly pedestrianized historic center, to see the timbered houses, Cathedral, and the commercial shopping streets. Note that the surface on some of these streets is cobblestone.
  • Additional paths in the parks.
  • Our other routes in Rennes along the Ille and the Vilaine rivers can be mixed & matched.