10 Best Things To Do In Vannes: Travel Guide, France
Vannes is a small walled city in the Morbihan, the lower part of Britanny in the North West of France. t is known for its rich history, picturesque old town, and beautiful natural surroundings. Vannes has a population of around 54,000 and is a popular destination for tourists looking to experience Brittany’s unique culture and traditions.
Here are the best things to do in Vannes and everything you need to know to plan your trip to this quaint city of Brittany!
Read more: 10 Best Things To Do In Vannes: Travel Guide, FranceThings to know about Vannes, France:
- Wear comfortable shoes: Vannes is a medieval city with winding cobblestone streets, so wear comfortable shoes that can handle uneven terrain.
- Plan your visit around the market: The Place des Lices market is held twice a week on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. It is a lively event where you can sample local foods and shop for souvenirs.
- Take a guided tour: A guided tour can give you a deeper understanding of Vannes’ history and culture. The Vannes Tourist Office offers a variety of tours, including walking, boat, and bike tours. You can also book tours online and activities in Vannes on GetYourGuide.
- Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is known for its delicious seafood, crepes, and cider. Be sure to try some of the local specialities while you are in Vannes.
- Visit the Tourist Office: The Vannes Tourist Office is located in the historic city centre and can provide you with maps, brochures, and other helpful information to make the most of your visit if you feel uneasy about something. However, you should know all the best tips and things to do in Vannes with this guide, but extra help is always welcome if you have a question during your visit!
- Is there a beach in Vannes? Yes, a few kilometres south of the city, there is the beach of Conleau, the only beach in the municipality. However, there are much prettier beaches to drive to in Morbihan.
How To Get To Vannes?
→ Get To Vannes from Paris
The train is an amazing option for reaching Vannes; you can rent a car here to explore more of Brittany.
The TGV (high-speed train) and the OUIgo (slightly cheaper than the TGV) are easy to access Vannes by train from Paris,
There is also the option of overnight or day buses if trains are too expensive for your travel budget.
→ Get To Vannes from Rennes
Vannes and Rennes are very close; the TER will take you from Rennes to Vannes and vice versa. A good option to save money is to take an OUIgo from Paris to Rennes and then a TER from Rennes to Paris.
Is One Day Enough In Vannes?
As mentioned above, Vannes is easy to access from Paris with the TGV. Therefore, Vannes is a good day trip option. However, it is best to stay overnight to fully experience what the city has to offer without rushing.
Things To Do In Vannes: Travel Guide
I spent most of my childhood summers and holidays visiting my grandparents in Brittany, and most of the year, they would spend time in Vannes.
Therefore, Vannes holds a special place in my heart. Beyond all the good memories I have there, I find the city full of charms and history; it’s a must-visit if you’re travelling in Brittany!
Here are all the best things to do in Vannes during your visit!
Visit Vannes’ Old Town
Like most French (and European) cities, there is an old part of town in Vannes, and you must visit Vannes’ old town when you’re there.
In Vannes’ Old town, you will find many coloured half-timbered houses, which makes the charm of this area.
There are plenty of elements of the past, such as the city’s architecture and former towers.
The bottom floors of the buildings are usually shops, and the upper, timbered parts are housing, which was already like that in the past.
There are plenty of souvenir shops in this part of town; I will cover the best souvenirs to bring home from Vannes later in the post!
Place Henri IV
Located a few meters from the Saint Pierre cathedral, Place Henri IV is rather small yet impressive; you will want to take photos when you stop there. It’s a joyful area where locals and tourists like to hang around.
Place des Lices
Back then, this place was where the city hosted its jousting tournaments.
Vannes Market Da Informations:
Nowadays, Place des Lices is a lively square where a bustling market occurs twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Château Gaillard – Gaillard Castle
Built during the XVth century and located in the city centre, this castle is home to the Archeology and History Museum and is classified as a historical monument.
In the museum, you’ll find over 1000 objects retracing history from prehistorical times to the Middle Ages.
2023: Currently closed for renovation
Saint Pierre Cathedral
This magnificent Gothic building dominates the city’s skyline. It features a towering spire that rises 66 meters above the ground, intricate stained-glass windows, and a beautiful interior with a vaulted ceiling. Construction began in the 13th century and continued over several centuries, resulting in a stunning mix of architectural styles.
The cathedral has many important religious artefacts, including a 17th-century organ and a carved wooden altarpiece from the 18th century.
Porte Saint Vincent
Saint Vincent is one of the city’s main gates, constructed between the late XVIth century and the beginning of the XVIIth. Its main goal was to establish a direct connection to the harbour.
This beautifully preserved gate is a notable entrance to the old town. It is adorned with intricate stone carvings depicting various scenes from the city’s history, making it a captivating architectural landmark for visitors and a testament to Vannes’ rich heritage.
I love passing through when going to and from the harbour; it feels like stepping back in time, and you can get a slight feeling of how it would have been to enter the city back in the day.
Les Remparts De Vannes & Jardins
Of course, I couldn’t write a travel guide of the best things to do in Vannes without including the city’s main landmarks.
It’s a key part of the city’s history. The fortified walls of Vannes and Saint Vincent Gate have been classified as historical monuments since the 11th of October 1928.
Les Remparts de Vannes, in French, or the Fortified Walls of Vannes, in English, are important to the city. As I mentioned above, Vannes is a medieval city; Vannes is one of the rare cities that kept more than 3/4 of their former enclosure.
The fortified walls of the cities were first erected between the III and the XVIIth centuries and evolved through the centuries to adapt themselves.
Exploring the fortified walls of Vannes is one of my favourite things to do in Vannes; it is such an interesting place full of history about the city. It’s also a great spot to take a stroll and admire the flowers displayed in spring and summer.
Promenade de la Garenne
Located close to the fortified walls of Vannes, Garenne Park is a quiet garden where you can rest and stroll.
Its location, on top of a hill, makes it perfect for admiring the Rempart of Vannes from another angle. It is considered to be the oldest park in the city.
The hills are also amazing spots to see the fireworks during summer.
Vannes Harbour
The picturesque harbour is filled with colourful fishing boats and yachts. You can stroll along the waterfront, enjoy fresh seafood at one of the many seafood restaurants, or take a boat trip to explore the islands and coastal landscapes.
There you can admire “Les vedettes de Vannes”.
A great thing to do in Vannes during summer is to get ice cream from one of the ice cream parlours on the harbour and stroll around on a warm summer evening.
La Cohue – Fine Arts Museum
Like most of the city, this museum is part of the historical monuments of France; this medieval hall was created in 1982.
This museum is housed in a former 13th-century convent and features a collection of art and artefacts from throughout Brittany’s history.
Attend Events in Vannes:
There are more things to do in Vannes; depending on when you’re travelling to Vannes, you might be able to attend some amazing events. The most famous events in Vannes are:
- Fêtes d’Arvor
- Les fêtes historiques de Vannes (not held in 2023)
- Fireworks for the 14th of July (Bastille Day in France)
- Fireworks for the 15th of August
- Vannes Christmas market
Here are 10 magical Christmas markets to check out in France!
Best Souvenirs To Buy In Vannes
This could also be alternatively titled best souvenirs to buy in Brittany in general as most of what you’ll find in Vannes, you can highly likely find the same items across Brittany. Brittany is known for its rich cultural heritage, stunning coastline, and delicious cuisine.
Here is a list of the best souvenirs from a trip to Brittany.
- Galettes and Kouign-Amann: These are two of the most popular Breton pastries. Galettes are savoury buckwheat crepes, while Kouign-Amann is a buttery, caramelized pastry! They make great souvenirs to bring back home.
- Cider and Breton Beer: Brittany is famous for its cider and beer production. Cider is made from apples, while Breton beer is typically made from buckwheat. Both are delicious and make great gifts for beer and cider lovers.
- Artisanal pottery: Brittany has a rich tradition of pottery-making, with many artisans producing beautiful pieces that reflect the region’s cultural heritage. You can find pottery in many styles, including traditional Breton motifs. You can also customise some adorable Breton bowls with your name on them!
You can also get a bowl from which to drink cider, as in Brittany and Normandy. - Artisanal soap: The region is home to many soap makers who produce high-quality, natural soaps using traditional methods. These make great gifts for those who enjoy natural skincare products.
- Biscuits boxes: Filled with delicious “Palets Breton”, those delicious cookies are thick and airy biscuits. Those boxes are beautiful and great to reuse for storage or decorating your house.
Overall, Brittany offers a range of unique souvenirs that reflect the region’s cultural heritage, culinary traditions, and natural beauty, and you can find many of those products in Vannes.
Conclusion On My Vannes Travel Guide:
Overall, Vannes is a wonderful destination for those interested in history, culture, and architecture. Its quaint cobbled streets, impressive landmarks, and picturesque surroundings make it a must-visit destination in Brittany.
If you have just discovered this French destination, I hope those Vannes photos make you want to visit!
I have visited Vannes many times as some of my family live there, so this place will always be close to my heart, and I love to explore the city and its fortified walls every time I visit. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do and it answered “what do to Vannes” if you were wondering!
Vannes is also a great starting point for a road trip in Brittany. There are many amazing cities and beaches in Brittany (including the Gulf of Morbihan, Carnac, and Quiberon) close to Vannes if you travel by car.
Also, follow me on Instagram to check out my travel adventures around Europe and more lifestyle content @cpt_lyne!
Here are some more posts about French cities you might enjoy:
- Visit Mt Saint Michel In Winter
- A day trip to Giverny to visit Monet’s house and garden
- A perfect day trip to Eguisheim, One of France’s cutest village
- Best Things To Do In Colmar, Alsace
- How To Spend A Week End In Angoulême
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Things To Do In Vannes France: Travel Guide / France
✈ Best Travel Ressources To Plan Your Next Trip
✈ How To Find Flights?
– Skyscanner; it is a good comparator for finding the cheapest flights.
– Google Flights is also a good help when comparing flights.
✈ Where To Book Accommodations?
– Booking.com: plenty of options and ways to get discounts the more you book.
✈ Best Sites To Book Activities
– GetYourGuide when I can’t get a ticket directly on the website or if it’s easier to go through them.
– Klook if you need to book more than just activities and would like to get everything from the same website or different day trips—(i.e. transport cards, car rental, hotel…).
✈ Other helpful travel resources
– Radical Storage: If you need a place to keep your luggage for an extended period when you travel, I recommend using them.
– TheTrainline: If you love to travel by train like me, then TheTrainline needs to be your go-to website for train travel in Europe.
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Disclaimer: This resources box contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you book anything through my links at no additional cost. These links help me support the blog and generate more content. Happy travels!
