Place Sainte-Anne (Sainte-Anne Square), Rennes

Situated north of the historic heart of Rennes, the old Sainte-Anne square has been around since the Roman period when it housed a pagan Mercury temple and triumphal arch. In the Middle Ages, the square was still found outside the city walls, being part of a suburb not far from the Porte au Saint-Michel (Saint Michael's Gate) and Porte aux Foulons (Fullers' Gate).

Nowadays, situated close to Rue Saint-Michel with its many bars, the square appears rather lively, especially in the evening. There are several architectural monuments in the area, including the new Saint-Aubin church, aka Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Nouvelle (Our Lady of Good News) basilica, built in 1916 and still unfinished. Its predecessor, the old Saint-Aubin church, once stood in the western part of the square, until 1904.

The new basilica is nested among Medieval-style half-timbered houses, five of which, including the Hôtel de Bretagne (built in 1586), at No. 9, and houses No. 10, 17, 18 and 19, are listed as historical monuments. The No. 19 house, formerly a private mansion of Jean Leperdit (who lived here until his death in 1823) is now occupied by Ty Anna Tavern.

Prior to 2002, the square had housed a large parking lot which has since been cleared and pedestrianized. Several excavations occurred during the construction of the Sainte-Anne metro station and the Congress Center (on the site of the former Jacobin Convent) have dug up more evidence attesting to the rich history of this area.