Saint-Patern district and church

The Saint-Patern district and church, cradle of Vannes

The Vannes audio-guided tour takes you into the oldest district of the city, Saint-Patern, where the Romans settled as early as the first century BC, on the hill of Boismoreau. It is visited by strolling along its paved streets.

A Roman district and a founding saint

Imagine the bustle of old in Rue de la Tannerie or Rue du Four. The church of the same name dates from the eleventh century; the first, built in the tenth century, was destroyed, like the cathedral, during the Norman invasions. It takes its name from Saint Paternus, first bishop of Vannes and one of the seven founding saints of Brittany. The district thus carries the memory of the city's spiritual and urban origins.

What there is to see

Saint-Patern is a pleasant and lively district, dotted with small bars and timber-framed houses, dominated by its church. You wander among picturesque paved streets and colourful façades. The church, a place of worship, is discovered with respect for silence. It is one of the most authentic corners of Vannes, to be explored at leisure.

Practical information

The Saint-Patern district spreads over the hill of Boismoreau, near the historic centre of Vannes. The streets can be walked freely at all hours; good shoes are advised on the cobbles. Saint-Patern church, a place of worship, keeps its own opening hours.

Why is Saint-Patern the oldest district?

It is there that the Romans settled as early as the first century BC, on the hill of Boismoreau. The district preserves the memory of the ancient origins of Vannes.

Who was Saint Paternus?

Saint Paternus was the first bishop of Vannes and one of the seven founding saints of Brittany. The district's church bears his name.