On your next visit to Dinan, why not take a day trip to Rennes, the administrative capital of the department Ile-et-Vilaine? It is a big town, packed full of great things to see and do. Like Dinan, Rennes is classed as a “City of Art and History.” Head to the historic centre to admire its fabulous architecture, from fortified medieval walls to half timbered buildings. Les Halles Martenot, a covered market built in the mid-19th century, hosts a market every Saturday morning, which is the third largest in France. Rennes cathedral is well worth a visit. First founded in the 6th century, it has grown with the city, and shows splendid architectural styles of many eras. If you are into parks and gardens, do not miss Parc Thabor, a formal French garden, orangerie, rose garden and aviary. The crown of Parc Thabor is certainly the Jardin botanique du Thabor, a lovely botanical garden. There is a fine arts museum south of the river, but if you are touting little ones around, you might do better with the Brittany Museum (Musée de Bretagne), which boasts a science centre with a planetarium.
Rennes is easy to reach from Dinan by car or public transport. By bus, use route 7. Check with the Office of Tourism for current timetables and prices.

They are in!  The Petit Bleu has posted the most popular baby names of 2011.   For girls, the top names (in order) were Louise, Louanne, Camille, Louna  and Chloé.  For boys, it was Máthis, Nathan, Ewenn, Arthur, Timéo, Axel,  Gabin and Clément. 

According to the Petit Bleu, those names are pretty run of the mill in Brittany.  Some of the more adventurous names cited were Aéva,  Aëlig, Alwenna, Amédée, Anjali, Azéline, Aziliz, Chayatte, Dilyo, Euphénia, Gwenvaen, Hippolyte, Jahoüen,  Keridwen, Lilwenn,  Loïza, Naolyna, Oanell, Parmédine  Silnoë, Sorën, Simao, Tihanna, Wallan and Youna.

So if you are out there looking for an original baby name, there could be something here for you!