Palais Saint-Georges

The Palais Saint-Georges in Rennes is a historic building that originally served as the residence of a Benedictine abbey. The abbey was founded in 1032 by Alain III, Duke of Brittany, to give his sister Adèle, the first abbess, a home. After centuries of existence, the 38th abbess, Magdelaine de la Fayette, commissioned the architect Pierre Corbineau in the 17th century to build a new structure, as the old building had fallen into disrepair. The foundation stone was laid in March 1670, with both the Bishop of Rennes and the abbess attending the ceremony in person. The new palace replaced the older abbey on the same site and shaped the city's appearance until the French Revolution.

During the Revolution, the abbey was closed in 1792 and the building was seized by the state. For a time it served as a barracks, during which the stone cross above the central gable was destroyed; it was not restored until much later. Since 1930, the Palais Saint-Georges has been classified as a historic monument of France. Today the building belongs to the city of Rennes and houses the local fire department as well as other civil administrative offices. It is located in the Thabor-Saint Hélier district near the Vilaine River and is easy to reach via the République metro station.

Architecturally, the palace stands out for its long gallery with nineteen two-story windows and paired granite arches, which is reached by a wide staircase with a stone balustrade. At the ends of the gallery are two pavilions in the same style. The mansard roof is fitted with dormer windows, while above the central gable you can see a large semicircular relief with the abbey's coat of arms and figures representing Justice and Peace. The initials of Abbess Magdelaine de la Fayette are set into the facade as iron letters. In front of the building lies the formal garden, the Jardin Saint-Georges, with gravel paths leading to the main entrance.