Vitré
Vitré (Breton: Gwitreg; Gallo: Vitræ) is a town in the département of Ille-et-Vilaine, in the region of Brittany, France. Vitré lies on the edge of Brittany, near Normandy Maine and Anjou. The town has been designated a ville d'art et d'histoire, a town of artistic and historic significance, by the Ministry of Culture in recognition of its rich cultural heritage.
Understand
[edit]Vitré is a medieval town very beautiful with a rich cultural heritage. It is a very good example of the medieval cities with castles, churches, very old houses (15th century), historic monuments, parks and nature. The site of Vitré was occupied in Gallo-Roman times. The name Vitré comes from the Gallo-Roman name "Victor" or "Victrix", after the owner of a farm in the region. The year 1000 marked the formal birth of Vitré, when the duke of Brittany Geoffrey I bestowed feudal powers upon Riwallon Le Vicaire, who was charged with keeping this strategic area as a buffer zone of the "Marches of Brittany".
Get in
[edit]Located east of Brittany, the city of Vitré is crossed by the expressway which prolongs motorway A 11, while the motorway of the Estuaries. As in the whole of the Ille-et-Vilaine département, the communes of the country of Vitré are accessible by these expressways (Paris - Rennes).
The Station of Vitré has a lot of trains' stops. The easiest way to get to Vitré from Paris is through Gare Montparnasse. There are trains almost a few per day and the ride is 1hrs and 56 min.
The airport is in Rennes - Saint-Jacques (40 km ≈ 25 miles).
Get around
[edit]Vitré is unique in that urban transportation is free for all routes.
See
[edit]Castles
[edit]- Castle of Vitré (11th-20th century)
- Remparts, Claviers' Tower, Bridole's Tower
- Rochers-Sévigné Castle
- Château-Marie (17th century)
- Hôtel Ringues de la Troussanais (Renaissance)
- Medieval streets (Beaudrairie, Poterie, d'Embas, etc.) and places (Marchix, Station, Château, Notre-Dame, etc.)
Religious heritage
[edit]- Saint-Nicolas Chapel (near Castle of Vitré)
- Notre-Dame Church (14th century) gothic
- Tower of the ancient Saint-Martin's Church (15th century)
- Saint-Martin Church (19th century)
- Sainte-Croix Church (17th-19th century)
- Protestant Church
- Convent of Bénédictins (Tribunal)
- Convent of Augustins (17th century)
- Chapels, calvaries situated in the city and countryside
Other monuments
[edit]- Menhir "La Pierre Blanche" (Beauvais Road to Pocé-les-Bois)
- Hôtel Sévigné-Nétumières (18th Century)
- The Station (19th century)
- Old barracks of 70e régiment d'infanterie
- The Grand Park
Do
[edit]Visit the city, museums, religious heritage, golf, etc.
Buy
[edit]Souvenirs of Vitré
Eat
[edit]Traditional cuisine
[edit]- Le Potager, 5 Place du Général Leclerc.
- La Soupe aux Choux, 32 Rue Notre-Dame.
- Le Petit Pressoir, 20 Rue de Paris.
- Au Vieux Vitré (dans le centre historique), 1 are Embas.
- Restaurant Le Chêne Vert, 2 Place du Général de Gaulle.
- Restaurant Le Saint Yves, 1 Place Saint-Yves.
- Restaurant l'Espérance (référence locale pour les grands banquets), 21 bd Rochers.
- Le Coligny, 5 Place de la République.
Regional cuisine
[edit]- Le Pichet, 17 Boulevard de Laval.
- Auberge Saint Louis, 31 rue Notre-Dame. Site classé XVe siècle, terrasse, à deux pas du Château et près de l'Église Notre-Dame. Situé sous les porches
- La Taverne de l'Ecu, 12 Rue Beaudrairie. Cadre médiéval du 16 ème siècle
Crêperies
[edit]- La Gavotte, 7 Rue des Augustins. (au pied du château, produits biologiques et ambiance bretonne
- L'Auberge du Château, 34 Rue d'Embas. Maison à pan de bois du XVe siècle, au pied des anciennes fortifications
- Crêperie La Gourmandise, 26 Rue Embas.
- La Fleur de Sel, 4 Rue Notre Dame.
- Crêperie des Arts, 1 Rue Duguesclin.
Fast food
[edit]- Mac Donald's, Place Villajoyosa (Forum de la Trémoïlle).
- Varto Kebab, 4 rue Duguesclin.
International cuisine
[edit]- Hao Heng, 9 Rue Garengeot. Chinese
- La Médina, 3 Place Notre-Dame. Moroccan
- Pizzeria L'Arlequin, 25 are Beaudrairie.
- L'Ecuyer, 2 Rue Garangeot.
Drink
[edit]- La Source, Le Bouffort (Direction La Guerche-de-Bretagne). Nightclub
- Le Jack Daniel's, 14 Rue de Brest (direction Rennes et Fougères). Nightclub
- Bressañ Pub, 3 Rue de la Trémoïlle. Nightclub decked out as a medieval building.
- Le Chêne Vert, 2 place du Général de Gaulle.
- Les Voyageurs, 28 rue Garengeot.
- Le France, 9 place du Général de Gaulle.
- L'Hakuna, 26 rue Neuve A front of gare-station, very nice bar for a nice moment..
- Le Guy XVI, 24 Rue Embas.
- Le Machin Truk, 25 Rue Embas. Popular student bar
- L'Aston Bar, 7 Rue Embas.
- Le Billy's Bar, 44 Rue Poterie.
- Ewan Café, 32 Rue Poterie.
- Le Triskell, 26 Rue Notre Dame.
- Le Chat Noir, 24 Rue Notre Dame. 15th century interior
Sleep
[edit]- Hôtel du Château, 5 Rue Rallon.
- Hôtel Ibis, Boulevard Châteaubriant.
- Hôtel Le Minotel, 47 Rue Poterie.
- Hôtel Le Petit Billot, 5 place du Général Leclerc.
- Hôtel Restaurant La Grenouillère, Route Ernée (RD 777).
- Hôtel-Restaurant L'Espérance, 21 boulevard des Rochers.
Go next
[edit]It is fairly easy to travel in France, therefore it would be clever to take advantage of the beautiful cities and coastal scenery in Brittany (Rennes, Dinan, Fougères). Saint-Malo, a wonderful coastal town on the English Channel, is only 45 minutes by TGV and usually costs less than €10. Buses are also available for less, but take a bit longer.