Ille-et-Vilaine Facts for Kids

Ille-et-Vilaine department

An unofficial flag of Ille-et-Vilaine

The coat of arms for Ille-et-Vilaine

Ille-et-Vilaine is a special area in western France. It's called a department, and it's part of the Brittany region. The main city in Ille-et-Vilaine is Rennes. About 908,000 people lived there in 2006.

What is Ille-et-Vilaine?
Main Cities and Towns
Nature and Legends
Images for kids
See also

What is Ille-et-Vilaine?

Ille-et-Vilaine is one of the 83 first French departments. These departments were created a long time ago during the French Revolution. This was a very important time in France's history when many things changed.

The department gets its name from two rivers: the Ille River and the Vilaine River. These rivers flow through the area.

Main Cities and Towns

The biggest city in Ille-et-Vilaine is Rennes. It's the capital, or "prefecture," of the department. This means it's where the main government offices are. Rennes is a lively city with a lot of history and modern life.

Besides Rennes, there are other interesting towns to explore:

Vitré: This town is famous for its amazing medieval (Middle Ages) buildings and a beautiful castle.
Dinard: Located on the coast, Dinard is a popular seaside resort. It has lovely beaches, like Plage de l'Ecluse.
Fougères: Here you can find the impressive Château de Fougères, one of the largest castles in Europe.
Saint-Suliac: This is a charming fishing village that looks like it's from a postcard.

Nature and Legends

Ille-et-Vilaine has beautiful natural areas. One famous spot is the Paimpont forest. This forest is often linked to the legendary Brocéliande forest from the stories of King Arthur and Merlin. It's a place full of myths and old tales.

You can also find ancient stone structures, like the megalithic site of La Roche aux fées (The Fairies' Rock) in Essé. These are very old stones placed by people long, long ago.