Useful travel information for the upcoming training school
Germinal cells and assisted reproductive technologies in farm animals
2-9 July 2025 | Rennes, France
HOW TO GET TO RENNES?
Rennes is a city in the Brittany region of France. If you're already in France (or you're French), this section might not be super useful. But for the rest of us, welcome to the good stuff™.
From France:
You can travel to Rennes either by bus (FlixBus), train (SCNF), car (either your own or BlablaCar).
From outside of France:
1) Nantes
My personal favourite: fly to Nantes, then take a train (SCNF - TER) to Rennes. It takes around 1h30–2h and costs ~20 euros. It's usually the cheapest and most convenient route.
Now, a few tips for the Nantes-Rennes combo: From Nantes airport, you’ll need to reach the train station.
You can take:
Normal public transport (free on weekends in Nantes! On weekdays it costs 1.80€). Downside? Takes ~1h. You can pay the ticket on the app ("Naolib Tram & Bus") or bus driver (unsure?).
OR the "NA" shuttle, a direct bus from the airport to the station. It’s faster (~20–30 min), costs 10€, and you can: pay on the app ("Naolib Tram & Bus") or directly to the driver (say "Un ticket, s’il vous plaît!") or at the machine next to the shuttle stop.
Pick your favourite based on budget vs speed. You’ve got options!
BE AWARE: trains in the Brittany region stop circulating at 20h or 21h. So be careful if you are planning on arriving super late!
2) Rennes
If you can fly directly into Rennes, congrats, you're already in the city! That’s half the stress gone.
However, this is usually more expensive (small airport that requires a layover for certain destinations), unless you're flying from places like Norway, where the price might be the same as flying to Nantes. So, it depends on your starting point. But if this works for you, amazing! You can skip most of the travel chaos.
3) Paris
Ah yes… Paris. My least favourite option. If you're doing it to save money on flights, may the odds be ever in your favour.
Why I don't like it: All the airports are outside of Paris, and you’ll need public transport (aka a test of patience) or a costly Uber (30–60€) to reach them.
Now, if you're brave and still want to do it:
Option A: Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
Book a flight that lands early enough to catch a train from inside the airport (yes, there is a station in CDG). The train to Rennes (TGV) leaves from there, but the schedule is not very flexible or frequent. Check timings before booking your flight!
Option B: CDG or Orly (but not Beauvais!!)
You’ll have to take the RER train to Gare Montparnasse (7–12€) and then catch the train (TGV) to Rennes. Be very careful with timing! One time, I had 3 hours between my flight (CDG) and the train in Montparnasse... and I barely made it. Paris transport delays are no joke.
Train tips from Paris: Use the TGV to Rennes (1h30), ideally book in advance. Prices vary: from 20€ to 100+€ depending on time, demand, and whether it’s a TGV (with reserved seats) or a TER (no reservations).
BE AWARE: trains usually stop circulating at 20 h- 22 h, depending on the starting point.
HOW TO GET TO INRAE (RENNES)?
INRAE is located on the Campus Beaulieu in Rennes. The address is: 16A All. Henri Fabre. Important: Don’t enter from the back of the building! There’s no intercom there, so the door won’t open without a badge (unless we open it from inside for you). Use the main entrance where you will be able to talk to the secretary to let you in (see arrow).
HOW TO GET TICKETS FOR TRANSPORT?
There are several options:
Single trip: 1.70€ – you can pay with your card directly on the bus.
Rechargeable card (get one from the metro station): Load with 10 trips for 15.30€ and it works on both bus and metro.
Rennes is super walkable (the most walkable city in France!). So, choose whatever works best for you, either a card or single rides.
WHAT TO DO OR SEE IN RENNES?
Rennes is a relatively small city when it comes to tourist attractions. It’s bigger than one might expect, but I’d say it’s more of a place to live than to visit. It has a very bohemian vibe, largely thanks to the many students living here. Because of that, Rennes is full of bars, coffee shops, and restaurants that are not only pleasant and cosy, but also quite trendy. Worth checking out a few if you have the time! That said, there are still some spots worth visiting if you’d like to experience some traditional French and Breton culture.
Here are a few recommendations:
Parc du Thabor – a classic French park, very beautiful and peaceful
Cathédrale Saint-Pierre and Église Notre-Dame en Saint-Melaine – historical and worth a visit
Marché des Lices – the second-largest market in France, held every Saturday
Parc des Gayeulles – a wilder, more natural park
Parlement de Bretagne – an iconic building with a lot of history
Place Sainte-Anne and the city centre – take a moment to notice the architectural details of the houses. You’ll see the typical construction of the region, with stone and timber-framed façades
Prairies Saint-Martin – another beautiful park with “little” Highland cows and with the river crossing it
The big advantage of Rennes is the location, allowing you to visit other cities around very easily. If you have time, go visit some places around like Saint-Malo, Nantes, Fougères, etc.
HOW’S THE WEATHER IN RENNES?
For those who don’t know, Brittany is the region in France known for its gloomy and rainy weather (boring!!). But that has some advantages, especially in the summer! During summer, the weather is nice without being too hot. July is the hottest month in Rennes, with an average temperature of 19°C.
The temperature here is VERY variable, so it’s hard to say exactly what the weather will be like. Some days it’s sunny, others it’s raining. But usually, summer is quite sunny. That said, it’s a bit like UK weather. It’s sunny, but not boiling hot, so you’re perfectly fine wearing jeans and a t-shirt. No upper lip sweat kind of summer (speaking as a Portuguese person, trust me, it’s a mild summer). Personally, I find it quite pleasant because you can enjoy being outside without melting from a heatwave.
A funny thing I’ve noticed is that people here, like in the UK, will run outside and soak up the sun the moment there’s even the slightest hint of sunshine. For those who went to Hannover last year, I’d say it’s about the same temperature (and we were there in August!). But of course, go with your internal thermostat, because some people keep telling me how “HOT” the summer is here.
