Description:

Vannes was first founded 2000 years ago by the Romans who called the settlement Darioritum.   Vannes has played an important role in Brittanys history and was the location for the signing of the 'Act of Union' between Brittany and France in 1532 through which Brittany became part of France.

Nowadays Vannes is the capital of Morbihan and has a large and thriving community.  Vannes is the department Prefecture (prefet).

Vannes is not only listed as a 'Ville et Pays D'art et D'histoire' - essentially reserved for towns that demonstrate they are trying to make the most of their setting, attractiveness and architecture but also as a 'Ville Fleurie category 4' - essentially reserved for towns that demonstrate a good attention to gardens and flowers.

Vannes is in the Morbihan department in south eastern Brittany and covers an area of 32.3 km².

The town is located at the head of the 'Golfe de Morbihan' a large protected bay 20km wide.  

There is a very lively undercover market at 'Le Halles des Lices', in the centre of Vannes, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  Markets can also be found at the 'Centre Commercial' and 'Quartier de Ménimur' every Tuesday and Friday mornings.  For fresh seafood visit the daily fish market at the 'Halle aux Poissons'.  All other groceries can be found in one of the 17 supermarkets in the Vannes area.

Vannes has some excellent shops and you can find modern chains and chic boutiques mixed with more traditional shops.

Vannes has all the facilities and services you can expect from a large town including several schools, university, banks, dentists, doctors, hospitals and a good transport system - there is even a bike hire scheme in operation where you can hire and park your bike at various locations around the town so you can leave your car behind.

For entertainment the centre of Vannes is filled with lots of lively bistros,  bars, cafes and restaurants.  You will find lots of seafood eateries here - the area is known as a paradise for fish lovers!  The 'Place de la Republique' is home to some great restaurants and the 'Place Gambetta' is an old square filled with cafes.

Alternatively you could visit the town theatre, exhibition centre, ice skating rink, the bowling alley, karting, laser shooting centre, one of the two cinemas or two indoor swimming pool complexes or the outdoor seawater pool.

Vannes is best explored by foot.  To make sure you don’t miss anything the Tourist Office runs regular guided tours.

You can walk along the ramparts which once surrounded the entire old city and take in some magnificent views visiting along the way some of the key sites of the old city such as the Tour du Connetable which was a large medieval tower and part of the old city walls and the former castle Chateau de l'Hermine which was transformed into a palace in the 17th century.  There are several medieval city gates - Porte Calmont, Porte Prison, Porte Poterne and Porte Saint Jean. 

The 'Saint Pierre Cathedral' built in the 13th century is one of the iconic symbols of Vannes and features beautiful Gothic and Renaissance architecture.  There is also a round side chapel dedicated to saint Vincent Ferrier who is buried there.

One of the most popular visitor attractions is the Archaeology Museum housed in the medieval Chateau Gaillard.  The museum houses a massive collection of artefacts, dating back thousands of years, that have been collected from excavations across Europe and the world.

Vannes has a number of events throughout the year.  The 'Festi’ Vannes' is a music festival held in April and open to all types of music which is played in the bars and cafes of downtown Vannes.

In June the bookfair 'Le Salon du Livre de Bretagne' is held whilst you can learn about the major events in the history of Vannes in the 'Fetes historiques de Vannes' in July.

Jazz is celebrated in July and August during the 'Jazz a Vannes' festival whilst the 'Fetes d’Arvor' is also celebrated in August and highlights the Breton culture through music, dance and theatre.

Worth a visit:

• Take a boat trip around the Morbihan islands many of which contain ancient Neolithic ruins and standing stones

• Have a picnic and relax in the 'Prefecture Gardens'

• Visit the Vannes Aquarium which is home to a Nile crocodile that was found in the sewers of Paris in 1984, some four-eyed, four-sexed fish from Venezuela and no-eyed fish from Mexico

• The Musee des Automates features mechanical toys from the 19th century and is situated next to the Aquarium

• Stroll through the 'La Papillonneraie', butterfly house which is also next to the Aquarium

• Visit the Cohue Museum in a 14th century house which is home to the town fine arts collection ranging from the 15th century

Vannes, placed in the centre of the 'Golfe de Morbihan', is an ideal setting for sports such as Sailing, Kayaking, Kitesurfing and Swimming.   

The town has an abundance of sporting facilities totalling over 175 acres of sports grounds as well as four football pitches, 7 sports halls and 2 large capacity stadiums.  Vannes even hosts its own marathon every October.

Popular land based sports include Shooting, Archery, Skydiving, Boxing, Hiking, Golf and Horseriding.   Cycling is very popular in the region and Vannes is has often along the route of the Tour de France.