RENNES: No Car? Logistics & Life Facts Guide Part 1

Moving to France? 🌍 Discover the best regions, real costs, and what life in France is really like. Welcome to Storybook Living France — your guide to moving, living, and thriving in France.

🇫🇷 Welcome to Part 1 of your ultimate Rennes relocation guide! The beautiful capital of Brittany is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about destinations for expats. This video dives into the essential logistics and quality of life, covering everything from Rennes’ population, weather, and distance from other major cities, to the critical information on *public transportation and *infrastructure.* Most importantly, we discuss the complexities of the French healthcare system* —a must-know before you arrive! Finally, discover the quality of life, focusing on Rennes’ amazing *green spaces, fitness culture, and how expats can plug into the local community.*

📍 Note: Data and currency conversions are subject to change. Always check the latest information before making relocation decisions.

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*Links & Resources*

* *WATCH NEXT:*
*Lyon Part 1 (Safety, Transport, Weather):* https://youtu.be/YESeBm0Vyek
*Part 2: Moving to Lyon: COST OF LIVING & Salaries EXPOSED:* https://youtu.be/gs7YB3tRdNo
*WATCH NEXT: The Truth About Bordeaux (Full Episode):* https://youtu.be/plCqZ1mC-Bg
*SUBSCRIBE to Storybook Living France:* https://www.youtube.com/@storybooklivingfrance
*Baguette Bound Channel:* (For tons of French Info!) https://www.youtube.com/@BaguetteBound
*Facebook Group: Expats move to France* (Highly valuable resource): https://www.facebook.com/groups/23814372316

*Places we visited in the video:*

https://www.facebook.com/groups/sfnbrittany/
https://www.connexionfrance.com/
https://www.star.fr/
https://www.nautisme-saint-suliac.com/
https://www.ckcir.net/page/2106455-actualites
https://www.blablacar.com/

*Chapters*
Intro – 0:00
Location & Context – 0:31
Population & Growth – 1:47
Weather & Seasons – 2:15
Transportation & Public Transit – 2:53
Health – 3:50
Local Parks & Nature – 4:18
Walk/Bike Paths – 5:12
Fitness & Recreation – 5:48
Religious Centers – 6:58
Community & Expat Life – 7:17
Singles & Social Scene – 7:55
Free Relocation Guide – 8:31
Next Week – 8:43

*Video & Media Credits*
*Music:* No.9 “Esther’s Waltz” — Esther Abrami https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOFrldzxeKGG8fTpN5_d75Q

*Photo & Image Credits:*
🎥 *Copyright & Attribution:*

*Required Wikimedia Commons & Creative Commons (Full Compliance)*
Map: TUBS, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
Elevated Train: Le Star, CC BY-SA 2.0
Station République: Olivier92, CC BY 3.0
Surgical Center: Hoolen, CC0
Thabor Park: IGNF/Erwan Corre, CC BY-SA 4.0
Oberthur Park: Étienne André, CC BY-SA 2.5
Forêt de Rennes: Sylenius, CC BY-SA 3.0
Emerald Coast: Benh LIEU SONG, CC BY-SA 3.0; W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0
Vélos & Kayak: Pymouss, CC BY-SA 4.0
Nautical Center: Ewan ar Born, CC BY-SA 4.0
Saint-Suliac: Trizek, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cathedral: Franzrycou, CC BY-SA 3.0
Notre-Dame: Morio60, CC BY-SA 2.0
Place Saint Anne: TouN, CC BY-SA 3.0
*Pexels & Unsplash Creators*
Unsplash Photos: Aalo Lens, DAT VO, Fabrizio Coco, Feodor Chistyakov, Louis Le Pessot, Mathis Rialland, Pascal Bernardon, Sebastián Brito, Sébastien Lavalaye, Thanh Ly.
Pexels (Videos & Photos): Ayoub SOUSSI, Ayco World, Bingqian Li, Dimitar Germanov, Kelly, Newman Photographs, Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha, Philippe WEICKMANN, Polina, Roman Biernacki.

#movingtofrance #MovingToRennes #LivingInFrance #RennesGuide #ExpatLifeFrance #Brittany #RennesFrance

[Music] Thinking of moving to France? 
Discover the best regions, real costs, and what life in France is really like. Welcome 
to Storybook Living France, your guide to moving, living, and thriving in France. If you missed 
last week’s deep dive into Leon, make sure you check out part two after this video. It’s packed 
with crucial financial and job info. Our next deep dive is to the west. Welcome to Rennes. Rennes is 
located in the Brittany region of northwest France and serves as its capital and the perfecture 
of the Ille-et_Vilaine department. It’s truly the political, economic, and cultural heart of 
Brittany. A city that perfectly blends medieval charm with modern vibrancy. Renne was built at the 
confluence of the river Ille and Vilaine rivers. The river Vilaine flows through the historic city 
center. One of Renne’s greatest assets is its connectivity. It’s a major rail hub and residents 
can also enjoy convenient driving access to major regional and national destinations. You can reach 
Nantes, the European Green Capital on the Loire River in about 1 hour and 20 minutes by car or 
train or escape to the coast at the beaches of St. -Malo in under an hour by car or train. For major 
trips, Paris is a 3h hour and 45 minute drive away or just 1 and a half hours by the fast TGV train 
and Bordeaux is accessible in approximately 4 and 1/2 hours by car or 3 and 1/2 hours by train. 
And for air travel, the Rennes Bretagne Airport is just a short drive from the city center, 
offering connections across France and Europe. Rennes is considered a midsized French city, but 
it’s one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. The core city population is 
roughly 371,000, but the greater metropolitan area is well over 771,000. This growth is driven 
by its strong technological sector and a young dynamic student population. The average here skews 
younger than most French cities, making it feel very energetic. Since we’re in Brittany, expect 
a distinctly oceanic climate, which is fairly humid. Summers are generally pleasant. Think 
average temps around 56 to 76 Fahrenheit or 13 to 24 Celsius, not stifling hot. And winters are 
mild and damp. Expect misty gray days with average temps of 38 to 49 F or 3.3 to 9.4 C. Don’t expect 
much snow, but rain is frequent. You’ll need a good raincoat and maybe a few sweaters, even in 
late spring. The benefit is lush green landscapes all year long. Rennes is famous for having one 
of the most efficient public transit systems in France, managed by STAR. It’s built around 
two fully automated rapid metro lines, A and B, which form a modern X-shaped network across the 
city. This network is perfectly integrated with an extensive bus system, making the whole of 
Rennes Metropole easily accessible. A single ticket for an hour of unlimited travel on the 
network costs about $1.98 or €1.70. For residents, the monthly cost is incredibly low. If you’re a 
student or under 27, expect to pay around $29 or €25 per month. For adults, a full monthly pass 
is approximately $62 US or €53 euros. This level of efficiency means that for most people here, 
car ownership is completely optional. And don’t forget about car sharing with services like 
blablacar. Like all French cities, Rennes has high quality public health care. The main teaching 
hospital, the Ventre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes (CHU) is a major regional center. Finding 
a general practitioner, Medecin Generaliste, can be challenging due to a high demand. So, 
it’s recommended to register with local doctors as soon as you get your residency established and 
begin the process for your Carte Vitale. Rennes skillfully balances its urban density with access 
to incredible natural spaces. Starting with the crown jewel right in the city center, the stunning 
10 hectare Park du Thabor which combines a French formal garden, an English landscape garden and a 
famous rose garden perfect for a weekend stroll. For another central option, the petite 3 hectare 
Park Hamelin Oberthur offers a peaceful spot near its pond featuring an impressive 155 species of 
trees and flowers. While those seeking something truly wild can head to the Foret de Rennes just 
north of the city offering miles of dedicated hiking and cycling trails. Crucially, this region 
is also your gateway to the spectacular Emerald Coast (Cote d”Emereaude) with its world class 
beaches and dramatic cliffs just over an hour’s drive away. Rennes is an extremely bike 
friendly city that heavily promotes its urban cycling network featuring safe dedicated 
bike paths. It’s a very pleasant city to navigate both on foot and by bike. Thanks in part 
to the accessible Paris or Lyon style bike sharing system Velo STAR which offers 900 bikes 
across 80 stations throughout the city. For added convenience, users can integrate the bike share 
service with their STAR monthly transit pass, which often provides a period of free usage, 
such as the first 60 minutes with every trip. You’ll find a huge range of fitness and sports 
options in Rennes. The many student residents keep the activity levels high. You’ll find 
numerous modern gyms or Salles de Sport starting with the most affordable “Basic Fit”. 
Costing approximately $21.50 to $32.40 US or €20 to €30 per month. And moving up slightly 
in price are “Best of Gym”, “Orange Bleue”, and “Fitness Park”. Or choose from a pricier 
option at “Elancia Rennes Mitterand” costing approximately $43 to 53 US or €39 to49. Or try 
one of the yoga studios or climbing centers. Local sports clubs from soccer to rugby to 
sailing given the proximity to the coast are plentiful and welcoming. 45 minutes away is the 
Club Nautique de Rennes located in Saint-Suliac, which offers a variety of sailing and wind surfing 
lessons and is known as a great sailing school. The nearby Vilaine River also offers kayaking and 
pleasant riverside runs. Check with the Canoeing Club of Ille Robinson to book your excursion. 
You’ll find many Christian churches in Rennes, predominantly Roman Catholic. Several evangelical 
churches are noted as having services in English. You will also find a vibrant Jewish community 
with its synagogue. Several Islamic and several Buddhist centers can be found in the city as well. 
While not as internationally famous as Paris or Nice, Rennes has a growing active expat community 
primarily due to its tech and education sectors. You’ll find various meetups and anglophone 
groups focused around the universities and the tech parks. You can join the active Facebook 
group, “English speakers in Brittany and Normandy, France”, for example. Catch the French news in 
English, plus other resources at “The connexion”, an online newspaper. The Breton people are 
traditionally warm and proud of their Celtic culture, making integration easier if you show 
interest in their regional heritage. Check the description for links. Given the high student 
population over 66,000, Rennes has a truly dynamic social scene. The historic center, especially the 
medieval timber framed houses around the Place des Lices, is packed with bustling bars, pubs, and 
terraces. Whether you’re a young professional or just young at heart, you’ll find an electric 
atmosphere and plenty of opportunities to meet people. We’re talking lively afterwork events 
and easy access to community groups. We’ve only scratched the surface of the social life here. 
We’ll dive into all the best districts and social tips in our part two recap next week. And by the 
way, if you haven’t grabbed my free relocation guide yet, the link’s just below. It’s a handy 
checklist for anyone dreaming of life in France. And please like and subscribe to help my new 
channel reach more people. And that wraps up our overview of the region, weather, parks, transport, 
and daily rhythms. Next week in part two, we are diving into the things that really matter 
for your move. Housing, cost of living, salaries, and the all important visa and residency process. 
You won’t want to miss it. Merci À bientôt [Music]