Rennes is the prefecture of the Brittany region and Ille-et-Vilaine department. In , its urban area had a population of , inhabitants, while the larger metropolitan area had a population of , Rennes's history goes back more than 2, years to a time when it was a small Gallic village named Condate.
Together with Vannes and Nantes , it was one of the major cities of the ancient Duchy of Brittany. From the early sixteenth century until the French Revolution , Rennes was a parliamentary, administrative and garrison city of the historic province of Brittany in the Kingdom of France , as evidenced by its 17th-century Parliament's Palace. After the destructive fire of , the medieval wooden center of the city was partially rebuilt in stone. Remaining mostly rural until the Second World War , Rennes underwent significant development in the twentieth century.
Since the s, Rennes has grown in importance through rural flight and modern industrial development, partly in the automotive sector. The city developed extensive building plans to accommodate upwards of , inhabitants. During the s, Rennes became one of the main centres in telecommunications and high-tech industry.
It is now a significant digital innovation centre in France. In , Rennes became the smallest city in the world to have a Metro line. Labeled a city of art and history, it has preserved an important medieval and classical heritage within its historic center, with over 90 buildings protected as historic monuments.
Since , Rennes is divided into 6 cantons populations as of : [ 7 ] [ 8 ]. Rennes is divided into 12 quarters : [ 9 ]. A member of the Socialist Party , she replaced retiring Socialist incumbent Daniel Delaveau , in office from to The mairie city hall is right in the centre of Rennes.
