Palace of Commerce, Rennes

In the mid-19th century, the river Vilaine was canalized. The stream was covered over between the bridges Nemours and Berlin. The imposing Palace of Commerce was built here from 1885 to 1929. The architects were Jean-Baptiste Martenot, followed by Emmanuel Le Ray. The building was intended to make the south of the city attractive.

The Palace separates the district of Upper Rennes from Lower Rennes, below the canal. The building sits on Republic Square. The facade is made of tuff stone and granite. Arcades, caryatids, and sculptures wrap around the ground floor. The pedestrian pavilion is called the Passage of the Legion of Honor.

The Palace of Commerce is laid out in a vague horse-shoe shape with wings facing north. Each wing has eleven bays and arcades, lending a touch of elegance. At first, the building was a stock exchange. Later it was home to the public library and the School of Fine Arts. It currently houses the Post Office, the Cafe de la Paix (Peace Cafe), and a phone exchange.

The central part of the Palace has paired Corinthian columns. The elegant portico has a pediment holding a cartouche with the inscription "Palace of Commerce." The Dutch architectural and urban design firm MVRDV is currently working on the redevelopment of the Palace and its surroundings on Republic Square.