Rue de la Psalette (Psalette Street), Rennes

Rue de la Psalette (Psalette Street), Rennes

Curving behind the apse of the Saint-Pierre Cathedral in Rennes is Rue de la Psalette, a short, narrow lane between Rue du Chapitre and Rue Saint-Sauveur. The word "psalette" is a derivative of the verb "psalmodier", which means reciting of psalms in a low monotonous tone. It also refers to the children's choir in church or a building where these children were housed.

The one at No. 8, acquired by the Cathedral Chapter in 1476, is exactly that sort of building. Its acquisition contract, however, wasn't signed until much later, under the episcopate of Jacques d'Épinay, in the mid 1700s.

Also, whilst in this alley, you can notice the former hotel Le Gonidec, at No. 1, otherwise known as the "Corner House". Dating from 1609, this building features two floors behind a half-timbered facade, with chevrons and oeil-de-boeuf (bull's-eye), a small circular window, resembling a wheel. The other houses nearby, with restored timber framing and semicircular doors, date from the 17th and 18th centuries.

However, the oldest house in the neighborhood, much as in the whole of Rennes, is at No. 12. It is believed to date back as far as the late 14th century, judging by its sandpit complete with the joist and the spacer.

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Rue de la Psalette (Psalette Street) on Map

Sight Name: Rue de la Psalette (Psalette Street)
Sight Location: Rennes, France (See walking tours in Rennes)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Rennes, France

Create Your Own Walk in Rennes

Create Your Own Walk in Rennes

Creating your own self-guided walk in Rennes is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Medieval Houses Walking Tour

Medieval Houses Walking Tour

From the late Middle Ages through to the end of the Ancien Régime (the period of Bourbon rule in France, from 1589 to 1789), a multitude of half-timbered houses were built in Brittany, and particularly in Rennes. Even today, the Breton capital is where half-timbered houses remain the most prevalent style of architecture, and a key element of the cultural heritage of the region reiterated in many...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Rennes Historical Churches Walking Tour

Rennes Historical Churches Walking Tour

Historical churches occupy a significant place in the cultural identity of Rennes, France. Travelers with a keen interest in religious history and architecture will find plenty to look at in this town.

Standing out majestically among the local ecclesiastical landmarks is Rennes Cathedral. Built in the 12th century, it underwent a centuries-long transformation from its Gothic origins to its...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Rennes Introduction Walking Tour

Rennes Introduction Walking Tour

Rennes began its existence as Condate Redonum, a Gallic and Roman town at the confluence of the Ille and Vilaine rivers. During medieval times, it became one of the three major cities of Brittany, together with Vannes and Nantes. The city played an important role in the Stamped Paper Revolt in 1675. During the French Revolution, it became the headquarters of the republican army in the fighting...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles