# Vitré

Vitré (Breton: Gwitreg; Gallo: Vitræ) is a town in the département of Ille-et-Vilaine, in the region of Brittany, France. Vitré 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 heritage.

## Understand

Vitré is a medieval town very beautiful with a rich cultural heritage. It is a very good example of the medieval cities with castles, churches, very old houses (15th century), historic monuments, parks and nature. The site of Vitré was occupied in Gallo-Roman times. The name Vitré 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 Vitré, 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 Vitré 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 département, the communes of the country of Vitré are accessible by these expressways (Paris - Rennes).
The Station of Vitré has a lot of trains' stops. The easiest way to get to Vitré 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

Vitré is unique in that urban transportation is free for all routes.

## See
### Castles

* Castle of Vitré (11th-20th century)
* Remparts, Claviers' Tower, Bridole's Tower
* Rochers-Sévigné Castle
* Château-Marie (17th century)
* Hôtel Ringues de la Troussanais (Renaissance)
* Medieval streets (Beaudrairie, Poterie, d'Embas, etc.) and places (Marchix, Station, Château, Notre-Dame, etc.)

### Religious heritage

* Saint-Nicolas Chapel (near Castle of Vitré)
* 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 Bénédictins (Tribunal)
* Convent of Augustins (17th century)
* Chapels, calvaries situated in the city and countryside

### Other monuments

* Menhir "La Pierre Blanche" (Beauvais Road to Pocé-les-Bois)
* Hôtel Sévigné-Nétumières (18th Century)
* The Station (19th century)
* Old barracks of 70e régiment d'infanterie
* The Grand Park

## Do

Visit the city, museums, religious heritage, golf, etc.

## Buy

Souvenirs of Vitré

## Eat
### Traditional cuisine

* Le Potager, 5 Place du Général Leclerc.
* La Soupe aux Choux, 32 Rue Notre-Dame.
* Le Petit Pressoir, 20 Rue de Paris.
* Au Vieux Vitré (dans le centre historique), 1 are Embas.
* Restaurant Le Chêne Vert, 2 Place du Général de Gaulle.
* Restaurant Le Saint Yves, 1 Place Saint-Yves.
* Restaurant l'Espérance (référence locale pour les grands banquets), 21 bd Rochers.
* Le Coligny, 5 Place de la République.

### Regional cuisine

* Le Pichet, 17 Boulevard de Laval.
* Auberge Saint Louis, 31 rue Notre-Dame. Site classé XVe siècle, terrasse, à deux pas du Château et près de l'Église Notre-Dame. Situé sous les porches
* La Taverne de l'Ecu, 12 Rue Beaudrairie. Cadre médiéval du 16 ème siècle

### Crêperies

* La Gavotte, 7 Rue des Augustins. (au pied du château, produits biologiques et ambiance bretonne
* L'Auberge du Château, 34 Rue d'Embas. Maison à pan de bois du XVe siècle, au pied des anciennes fortifications
* Crêperie La Gourmandise, 26 Rue Embas.
* La Fleur de Sel, 4 Rue Notre Dame.
* Crêperie des Arts, 1 Rue Duguesclin.

### Fast food

* Mac Donald's, Place Villajoyosa (Forum de la Trémoïlle).
* Varto Kebab, 4 rue Duguesclin.

### International cuisine

* Hao Heng, 9 Rue Garengeot. Chinese
* La Médina, 3 Place Notre-Dame. Moroccan
* Pizzeria L'Arlequin, 25 are Beaudrairie.
* L'Ecuyer, 2 Rue Garangeot.

## Drink

* La Source, Le Bouffort (Direction La Guerche-de-Bretagne). Nightclub
* Le Jack Daniel's, 14 Rue de Brest (direction Rennes et Fougères). Nightclub
* Bressañ Pub, 3 Rue de la Trémoïlle. Nightclub decked out as a medieval building.
* Le Chêne Vert, 2 place du Général de Gaulle.
* Les Voyageurs, 28 rue Garengeot.
* Le France, 9 place du Général de Gaulle.
* L'Hakuna, 26 rue Neuve A front of gare-station, very nice bar for a nice moment..
* Le Guy XVI, 24 Rue Embas.
* Le Machin Truk, 25 Rue Embas. Popular student bar
* L'Aston Bar, 7 Rue Embas.
* Le Billy's Bar, 44 Rue Poterie.
* Ewan Café, 32 Rue Poterie.
* Le Triskell, 26 Rue Notre Dame.
* Le Chat Noir, 24 Rue Notre Dame. 15th century interior

## Sleep

* Hôtel du Château, 5 Rue Rallon.
* Hôtel Ibis, Boulevard Châteaubriant.
* Hôtel Le Minotel, 47 Rue Poterie.
* Hôtel Le Petit Billot, 5 place du Général Leclerc.
* Hôtel Restaurant La Grenouillère, Route Ernée (RD 777).
* Hôtel-Restaurant L'Espérance, 21 boulevard des Rochers.

## Go next

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, Fougères). 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.