Redon (; ) is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in northwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Geography Redon borders the Morbihan and Loire-Atlantique departments. It is situated at the junction of the Oust and Vilaine rivers and Nantes-Brest canal, which makes it well known for its autumn and winter floods. It is located at 50 km from Nantes, Rennes, Vannes and their airports The town has a station which connects to Quimper and Rennes then Paris in 2h05. History Very little information exists about this area before 832, however it would seem that there was a parish by the name of Riedones which gave the town its name. In 832, Conwoion, a Breton monk with the help of the Carolingian Emperor Louis the Pious founded the abbey of Saint-Sauveur de Redon. Today, documents relating to the life of the abbey still exist. The town developed around the abbey until a small rural community of 6,000 inhabitants was formed in the 1960s. In the Middle Ages, Redon benefitted from maritime commerce due to its location on the Vilaine. Population Inhabitants of Redon are called Redonnais/Redonnaises in French. Breton language The municipality launched a linguistic plan through Ya d'ar brezhoneg on 10 October 2008. In 2008, 14.31% of primary-school children attended bilingual schools. Economy Cargill Texturising Systems - A pectin factory Faurecia, subsidiary of Peugeot-Citroën. Bic - business making lighters, razors and pens among other things (with only lighters being made in Redon) Eis Cultural life Fête de la Chataigne (sweet chestnut festival) in October. Festival de la Bogue d'Or (Festival of songs and music from Upper Brittany) On Monday 4 July, the third stage of the 2011 Tour de France ended in Redon. The stage, which was won by Tyler Farrar, was the first time the Tour had passed through Redon. International relations Redon is twinned with: Andover, United Kingdom. Goch, Germany. See also Communes of the Ille-et-Vilaine department The works of Jean Fréour Statue of St Conwoïon sculptor References External links Official Site of Redon Communes of Ille-et-Vilaine Subprefectures in France Populated coastal places in France