Christmas
What to do in Ille-et-Vilaine during the Christmas holidays
The Rennes Christmas markets, Saint-Malo in winter, Cancale oysters, Vitré and Fougères: our ideas for the 2026 Christmas holidays in Ille-et-Vilaine.
6 min read
The 2026 Christmas holidays run from Saturday 19 December to Monday 4 January 2027, for all three zones. Ille-et-Vilaine brings together the Rennes Christmas markets, the winter sea in Saint-Malo and the fortresses of the east.
Christmas 2026 events in Ille-et-Vilaine
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 21 November to 31 December | Christmas market | Mail François-Mitterrand, Rennes |
| 29 November to 4 January | Christmas village | Place du Parlement, Rennes |
| Late November to late December, dates to be confirmed | Christmas market | Saint-Malo |
| All winter | Oyster market | Port de la Houle, Cancale |
Winter must sees
Heritage siteSaint-Malo Intra-MurosSaint-Malo · A dayA walled city entirely encircled by 1,754 metres of granite ramparts, facing the Channel, to the rhythm of the highest tides in Europe.
VillageCancaleCancale · 2 hours minimum, ideally half a day. A full day with the Pointe du GrouinFacing the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, Cancale brings together the Port de la Houle, an oyster market open all year round, fishermen’s houses, oyster beds and a coastal path to the Pointe du Grouin.
CastleChâteau de VitréVitré · 1 h 30 to 2 hoursOn its rocky spur, the Château de Vitré is a spectacular triangular fortress housing a museum and the town hall, in the heart of a remarkably well-preserved medieval town.
CastleChâteau de FougèresFougères · 2 to 2 h 30With its towers and three walled enclosures, Fougères has one of the most impressive medieval fortresses in Europe, in the heart of the former Marches of Brittany.
Natural siteForêt de BrocéliandePaimpont · 1 day minimum, ideally 2 or 3 daysNearly 12,000 hectares around Paimpont, with forests, heathland, lakes and purple schist: the Val sans Retour, the Fontaine de Barenton, Merlin’s Tomb. A mostly private forest, with waymarked trails.
Where to stay in Ille-et-Vilaine
Stay in Ille-et-Vilaine
Places to stay that are still available, with current prices, compared across the main booking platforms.
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Going further
Ille-et-Vilaine, in the journal
- The Route du Rhum 2026 village opens in Saint-Malo
- Where to stay in Saint-Malo: our hotels by district
- Mythos Festival 2027: Axelle Red, Jeanne Added, Niro and the new names
- Route du Rhum 2026: how to follow the start
- Route du Rhum 2026 in Saint-Malo: the guide
- What to do in Ille-et-Vilaine during the All Saints’ holidays
- What to do in Rennes during the All Saints’ holidays
- What to do in Saint-Malo during the All Saints’ holidays
Christmas in Brittany
- Christmas markets in Brittany in 2026
- What to do in Brittany during the 2026 Christmas holidays
- What to do in Finistère during the Christmas holidays
- What to do in Morbihan during the Christmas holidays
- What to do in Côtes-d’Armor during the Christmas holidays
- What to do in Loire-Atlantique during the Christmas holidays
- What to do in Rennes during the Christmas holidays
- What to do in Nantes during the Christmas holidays
- What to do in Brest during the Christmas holidays
- What to do in Saint-Malo during the Christmas holidays
- What to do in Vannes during the Christmas holidays
- What to do in Quimper during the Christmas holidays
- What to do in Lorient during the Christmas holidays
- What to do in Saint-Brieuc during the Christmas holidays