Talensac (Breton: Talenseg, Gallo: Talanczac) is a commune in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittany. The Meu river is all of the commune's eastern border. Located at 20 km west of Rennes in the perimeter of the second suburb of Rennes, Talensac is crossed from the West to the East by the brooks of Guillermoux and of Bignons which form the Barillais, the Serein and the Rohuel and then the Chèze which are confluents of the Meu river. It is next to the forest of Montfort-sur-Meu. The town stretches over 2.161 hectares and has a population of 2.100 inhabitants. Talensac has hamlets: Crabassou and Trénube. It is surrounded by Montfort-sur-Meu, Bédée, La Nouaye, Breteil, Pleumeleuc, Iffendic, Saint-Gonlay.

Understand

As early as 1803, Talensac was an independent parish which also included the village of Le Verger. The first church was replaced and rebuilt around 1703. But this church, dedicated to Saint-Anne, was devastated by a fire in June 1872. Another church was then built (actual church). It has been consecrated in 1882 by the archbishop of that time.

Judicaël and Erispoë, kings of Brittany, had a residence from the 7th to the 9th century in Talensac. Erispoë lived in the village of the "Châtellier" next to the road of Breteil. This fortification was protected as it had moats. On 2 November 857, Erispoë was assassinated in the church of Talensac by Salomon, his first cousin, who didn't want Erispoë's daughter to marry the son of Charles le Chauve. This would have brought into play the lands of Salomon and the independence of Brittany faced to West Francia, but also all the chances of Salomon to access to the throne.

In 1152, Guillaume I spouse gave Saint-Jacques de Montfort abbey, the taxes of Talensac and the mill of the town to monks. The son of Guillaume I and of Amice de Porhoët, Godefroy de Montfort, left "Le pré au Comte" in 1171. Around 1372, the castle of the "Châtellier", property of the Bintin family, was devastated.

In 1697, Jeanne-Françoise De Massuel, Lady of the Bois-de-Bintin, married the Lord of Belin, Mathurin Lesné, in Talensac. He and his spouse lived in the castle of "Bédoyère", an imposing residence from the 17th century. The castle, badly preserved during the different periods it went through, was demolished around 1920.

Get in

By car

Take RN24 (Rennes / Vannes-Lorient) and exit Talensac-Montfort.

By plane

The closest airport is in Rennes.

By train

Railway station of Montfort-sur-Meu, direct lines from Rennes.

By bus

Illenoo Bus, line 2: Breteil, Iffendic, La Nouaye, Montfort-sur-Meu, departing from the railway station of Rennes.

See

• Saint Méen Church. It is dated 19th century but the cross next to it is dated 16th century. 

Do

• Eminescu park. Cross the Eminescu park to have a view on the Meu valley. 
• Circuit of the pond of Le Guern. The path has a few quite steep hills. 
• Circuit of Trieneuc/Val-Beuzet/Les Auriais. The circuit offers a panorama on Montfort-sur-Meu, Bédée and Breteil. Brooks and small waterfalls liven the walk. 
• Circuit of La Vallée/Trieneuc/Les Auriais. The circuit offers panorama on the villages of Monterfil, Le Verger and Treffendel. A small part of Rennes can also be seen. 
• Circuit of the pond of Carrouët. The circuit hasn't got any major difficulties. 

Buy

The district of Montfort en Brocéliande offers many local products including honey, chouchen, gingerbread, royal jelly, pollen, sweets.

• Trénube Farm. Milk fed veal meat and beef. 

Eat

• La Fontenelle. Traditional cooking. 

Sleep

• Roulottes de Trénube. Decorated caravans in the "bohemian" style. 
• Trénube. The guesthouse is a former farm.