Podcast Tour Rennes: 1720 Fire & Reconstruction

Seven stops through fire, rubble, and the stones that rebuilt a city

A 1.4 km self-guided podcast tour of Rennes following the 1720 Great Fire and the architectural revolution that followed, narrated by architecture expert Tom and local resident Irene. The tour moves through seven stops over 84 minutes, from the fragile medieval quarters to the rational classical squares and streets that rose from the ashes. Audio guide in English or German. Minimum age 13.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Rennes' architectural transformation

• Visit square with leaning half-timbered houses
• Explore historic market square
• Walk through hidden medieval alleyway
• See Great Fire of 1720 starting line
• View post-fire classical stone architecture
• Visit symbol of Breton identity
• Stroll vibrant street of half-timbered houses

The experience

What happened to Rennes when fire swept through in 1720? The tour starts in the medieval heart: narrow alleys and half-timbered houses so tightly packed they were a tinderbox waiting to burn. You'll stand in the square where those leaning timber frames still stand, then move through the hidden alleyway that shows what the pre-fire city actually felt like: cramped, fragile, combustible. The podcast audio walks you through each stop, with Tom and Irene explaining not just the architecture but the human choices behind it.

The real pivot comes at the fire line itself: the physical boundary where the blaze started and where the city made a deliberate choice. On one side, medieval Rennes. On the other, a new city built to last: rational, fireproof, classical stone instead of timber. You'll see the heart of that reconstruction, the grand squares and ordered streets that replaced the medieval maze. The tour also takes you to the cathedral, a survivor of the 1720 fire that burned again in 1994, and ends on a street of preserved half-timbered houses: proof that the medieval past never fully disappeared, even after the inferno.

The app handles navigation between stops and answers questions about what you're seeing as you go. You move at your own pace through the 1.4 km route, which takes most people around 84 minutes. The audio is available in English or German.

What’s included

• Podcast-style audio narration by architecture expert Tom and local resident Irene.
• interactive in-app guide for questions about the story and sites.
• precise GPS navigation between the seven stops.
• verified historical and architectural context woven through the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Under 13: can't be booked

Audio guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Red Thread

Is this one for you?The self-guided format means you walk when you want, pause to linger at a stop, or skip ahead if the pace doesn't suit you: useful if you're traveling solo or with someone who moves differently. The minimum age is 13, so it works for older teens and adults interested in how cities rebuild themselves.

Top questions

How does the podcast tour actually work as I walk through Rennes?

Download the app before you start, and it will guide you to each of the seven stops with GPS navigation. At each stop, the podcast audio plays (Tom and Irene explain what you're looking at and why it matters), and the app lets you ask follow-up questions about the story or the surroundings around you. You control the pace entirely. There's no group, no fixed schedule.

What does the tour show about the 1720 fire and how it changed the city?

The tour traces the fire's path and the deliberate rebuilding that followed. You'll see the medieval quarters with their half-timbered houses that burned so easily, the exact line where the fire started, and the classical stone architecture that replaced the timber: a shift from a cramped, fragile medieval city to a planned, fireproof one. The stops include the cathedral (which survived 1720 but burned in 1994) and streets where medieval houses were preserved alongside the new classical design.

Is this tour physically demanding, or can anyone do it?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. It covers 1.4 km over 84 minutes at whatever pace you choose, with no climbing or strenuous activity. Service animals are welcome.

What's included in the tour, and what do I need to bring?

The app provides the podcast audio, in-app navigation between stops, and the ability to ask questions about the story and surroundings as you go. You'll need a smartphone with the app downloaded and a charged battery. Headphones are recommended but not required.