Page 68 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

66  BRIT T AN Y REGION B Y REGION

Parlement de Bretagne
The Breton parliament, dating from 1618–55, is a major
landmark in the city of Rennes. Salomon de Brosse, the
architect of the Palais du Luxembourg in Paris, designed
the façade in the Italian style. The interior courtyard, by
contrast, is built in brick and stone in the French style.
The interior decoration of the building emphasizes the . Court of Assises
hallowed importance of Brittany’s independent political The tables and benches
power: the sumptuous Salle des Pas-Perdus, with the in the audience chambers
coat of arms of Brittany and France, and the ceiling of are made of oak. The
the Grand’Chambre, designed by Louis XIV’s foremost room is lit by antique
and modern chandeliers.
painter, amply express this. Gutted by fire in February
1994, the building took ten years to restore.

. Salle des
Pas-Perdus
The door to the
Salle des Pas-Perdus
(the lobby) features
windows decorated
with metalwork.
The room has an
ornate wooden
coffered ceiling.

Salle Jobbé-Duval
The allegories painted
by Félix Jobbé-Duval in
1866 were the last
decorative elements to
be added. The allegory
seen here is Eloquence.

KEY
1 Pediment Salle des Piliers
2 Former Court of Criminal This is the grand
Justice entrance hall to the
parliament building. Like
3 Slate roof, covering 5,200 sq m the rest of the interior, it
(18,660 sq ft) is built of stone, a
4 The ground-floor rooms traditionally French
of the building were used for construction that
official ceremonies. contrasts with Jacques
Gabriel’s classical façade.
For hotels and restaurants see pp224–5 and pp234–5

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