'''Vitre''' (Breton: ''Gwitreg''; Gallo: ''Vitra'') is a French town and commune in the departement of Ille-et-Vilaine, in Brittany. Vitre, a former sub-prefecture until 1926, is the chief town of a canton of around 17,000 inhabitants. It 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 inheritance.
Understand
Vitre is a medieval town very beautiful with a rich cultural heritage. It's a very good exemple of the Middle Age cities with castles, churches, very old houses (15th century), historic monuments, parks and nature.
The site of Vitre was occupied in Gallo-Roman times. The name Vitre 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 Vitre, 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
Located east of Brittany, the city of Vitre 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 departement, the communes of the country of Vitre are accessible by these expressways (Paris - Rennes).
The Station of Vitre has a lot of trains' stops. The easiest way to get to Vitre 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
Vitre is unique in that urban transportation is free for all routes.
See
'''Castles'''
Castle of Vitre (11th-20th century)
Remparts, Claviers' Tower, Bridole's Tower
Rochers-Sevigne Castle
Chateau-Marie (17th century)
Hotel Ringues de la Troussanais (Renaissance)
Medieval streets (Beaudrairie, Poterie, d'Embas, etc.) and places (Marchix, Station, Chateau, Notre-Dame, etc.)
'''Religious heritage'''
Saint-Nicolas Chapel (near Castle of Vitre)
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 Benedictins (Tribunal)
Convent of Augustins (17th century)
Chapels, calvaries situated in the city and countryside
'''Other monuments'''
Menhir "La Pierre Blanche" (Beauvais Road to Poce-les-Bois)
Hotel Sevigne-Netumieres (18th Century)
The Station (19th century)
Old barracks of 70e regiment d'infanterie
The Grand Park
Do
Visit the city, museums, religious heritage, golf, etc.
Buy
Souvenirs of Vitre
Eat
Traditionnal Cuisine
Le Potager. Place du General Leclerc.
La Soupe aux Choux. 2 Rue Notre-Dame.
Le Petit Pressoir. 0 Rue de Paris.
Au Vieux Vitre (dans le centre historique). r Embas.
Restaurant Le Chene Vert. Place du General de Gaulle.
Restaurant Le Saint Yves. Place Saint-Yves.
"Restaurant l'Esperance (reference locale pour les grands banquets). 1 bd Rochers>
Le Coligny. Place de la Republique.
Regional Cuisine
Le Pichet. 7 Boulevard de Laval.
Auberge Saint Louis. 1 rue Notre-Dame. Site classe XVe siecle, terrasse, a deux pas du Chateau et pres de l'Eglise Notre-Dame. Situe sous les porches
La Taverne de l'Ecu. 2 Rue Beaudrairie. Cadre medieval du 16 eme siecle
Creperies
La Gavotte. Rue des Augustins. (au pied du chateau, produits biologiques et ambiance bretonne
L'Auberge du Chateau. 4 Rue d'Embas. Maison a pan de bois du XVe siecle, au pied des anciennes fortifications
Creperie La Gourmandise. 6 Rue Embas.
La Fleur de Sel. Rue Notre Dame.
Creperie des Arts. Rue Duguesclin.
Fast-food
Mac Donald's. lace Villajoyosa (Forum de la Tremoille), .
Varto Kebab. rue Duguesclin.
International Cuisine
Hao Heng. Rue Garengeot. Chinese
La Medina. Place Notre-Dame. Moroccan
Pizzeria L'Arlequin. 5 r Beaudrairie.
L'Ecuyer. Rue Garangeot.
Drink
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Le Bouffort (Direction La Guerche-de-Bretagne)" phone="" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="">Nightclub</drink>
Le Jack Daniel's. 4 Rue de Brest (direction Rennes et Fougeres). Nightclub
Bressan Pub. Rue de la Tremoille. Nightclub decked out as a medieval building.
Le Chene Vert. place du General de Gaulle.
Les Voyageurs. 8 rue Garengeot .
Le France. place du General de Gaulle.
L'Hakuna. 6 rue Neuve A front of gare-station, very nice bar for a nice moment..
Le Guy XVI. 4 Rue Embas.
Le Machin Truk. 5 Rue Embas. Popular student bar
L'Aston Bar. Rue Embas.
Le Billy's Bar. 4 Rue Poterie.
Ewan Cafe. 2 Rue Poterie.
Le Triskell. 6 Rue Notre Dame .
Le Chat Noir. 4 Rue Notre Dame. 15th century interior
Sleep
Hotel Ibis. oulevard Chateaubriant.
Hotel-Restaurant L'Esperance. 1 boulevard des Rochers.
Hotel Restaurant La Grenouillere. oute Ernee (RD 777).
Hotel du Chateau. Rue Rallon.
Hotel Le Minotel. 7 Rue Poterie.
Hotel Le Petit Billot. place du General Leclerc.
Get out
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, Fougeres). 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.