Rennes, France is a vibrant place full of beautiful wooded architecture and a river flowing right through the city center. As the capital of Brittany, there is no shortage of history and celtic culture. Not only that, but the city has a wonderful street art scene, meshing medieval buildings with contemporary arts – keeping the city alive while also preserving its roots.

Here we have a piece by Alias Ipin who uses Rennes’ historic architecture of “pan de bois” (timber framing) as a subject. The lines represent fallen wood, meant to evoke a feeling of instability and structural collapse. It showcases how the old, medieval buildings common in this region are fragile and can decay over time.

This is my favorite street art in Rennes, a beautiful and grand depiction of “une hermine” (a stoat, related to the weasel). The creator goes by the alias WAR!, an anonymous but well-known local street artist. Une hermine is a symbol of Brittany and symbolizes purity, courage and sovereignty. They are common in local folklore and are also tied to Breton royalty. As such an important symbol, they are represented on the region’s flag.

And of course, I can’t mention the street art of Rennes without mentioning the radishes. Around the city, there are an estimated 600 radish sculptures – all in various spots and all in varying sizes. Originating from local artist Ar Furlukin, these playful radishes are playing on the phrase “la plus radieuse de France”, meaning “the most radiant town”, or, as a pun, “the most radishy.” This is one of the smaller sculptures pasted on a building, but I walked by one on the sidewalk that was almost as tall as me!

Walking through Rennes and getting to know the city was an unforgettable experience. Having lived with a host family, I nearly felt like a local by the time I had to leave. The history of Rennes goes deep, and I’m grateful to have learned so much about a beautiful city.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: French and Francophone Studies in Rennes