Saint-Yves Chapel, Rennes

Visiting Chapel Saint鈥慪ves offers travelers a captivating glimpse into the city鈥檚 medieval past. This compact gem was originally built in 1494 as part of a hospital complex founded by Canon Eudon Le Bouteiller in 1358 to serve during the turbulent times of the Breton Succession War.

The chapel is a standout example of Gothic architecture, with a graceful fa莽ade featuring pointed arches, sculpted niches, and tall Gothic windows that bathe the interior in soft light. Inside, the rectangular nave is topped by a vaulted ceiling supported by carved wooden sabli猫res鈥攐rnate horizontal beams with engravings dating back to the 15岬検� century.

Over the centuries, the chapel鈥檚 function evolved dramatically: after the hospital moved in 1858, it became everything from a cathedral chapter space to a hardware store. It was officially classified as a Historic Monument in 1945, purchased and restored by Rennes cityers in 1981, and later served as the Rennes M茅tropole Tourist Office until 2019.

Today, Chapel Saint鈥慪ves houses an interpretive center showcasing the rich architectural and social history of the city. Visitors can follow an educational trail highlighting local heritage, and enjoy modern stained鈥慻lass windows by artist G茅rard Lardeur installed in 1997. Temporary exhibitions also draw cultural tourists seeking deeper insight into the city鈥檚 evolution.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Rennes. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Saint-Yves Chapel
Sight Location: Rennes, France (See walking tours in Rennes)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Rennes Historical Churches Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Rennes, France

Create Your Own Walk in Rennes

Creating your own self-guided walk in Rennes is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Medieval Houses Walking Tour

From the late Middle Ages through to the end of the Ancien R茅gime (the period of Bourbon rule in France, from 1589 to 1789), a multitude of half-timbered houses were built in Brittany, and particularly in Rennes. Even today, the Breton capital is where half-timbered houses remain the most prevalent style of architecture, and a key element of the cultural heritage of the region reiterated in many... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles

Rennes Historical Churches Walking Tour

Historical churches occupy a significant place in the cultural identity of Rennes, France. Travelers with a keen interest in religious history and architecture will find plenty to look at in this town.

Standing out majestically among the local ecclesiastical landmarks is Rennes Cathedral. Built in the 12th century, it underwent a centuries-long transformation from its Gothic origins to its... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles

Rennes Introduction Walking Tour

Rennes began its existence as Condate Redonum, a Gallic and Roman town at the confluence of the Ille and Vilaine rivers. During medieval times, it became one of the three major cities of Brittany, together with Vannes and Nantes. The city played an important role in the Stamped Paper Revolt in 1675. During the French Revolution, it became the headquarters of the republican army in the fighting... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles

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