daily flights to London Southend Airport with Flybe. Notable people Soazig Aaron (born 1949), writer Bertrand d'Argentré (1519–1590), jurist and historian, seneschal of Rennes in 1547 than head of the présidial court Emmanuel-Marie Blain de Saint-Aubin (1833–1883), educator, songwriter, story-teller, and translator Georges Ernest Boulanger (1837–1891), general and politician, born in Rennes Jean-Claude Bourlès (born 1937), writer and traveler Nicolas Courjal (born 1973), operatic bass Maxime Daniel (born 1991), professional cyclist Madeleine Desroseaux (1873–1939), poet and novelist Yvonne Dubel (1881–1958), soprano opera singer Félix Dujardin (1801–1860), professor and dean of the University of Rennes, famous parasitologist René Guillou (1903–1958), composer and organist Paul Jausions (1835–1870), musicologist specialising in Gregorian chant Hélène Jégado (1803–1852), executed serial poisoner Matthieu Lahaye (born 1984), racing driver Pierre-Emmanuel Le Goff (born 1979), film director, producer and distributor Jacques Legrand (born 1946), linguist and anthropologist, specialising in Mongolian literature, language and history Malika Ménard (born 1987), Miss France 2010 Sylvaine Neveu (born 1968), chemist and scientific director of the Solvay group Louis Pérouas (1923–2011), priest and historian François-Henri Pinault (born 1962), chairman and CEO of Kering. René Pleven (1901–1993), twice President of the Council of Ministers Pierre Robiquet (1780–1840), chemist member of the Académie des Sciences, discoverer of codein, asparagin and alizarin among others Valentina Tronel (born 2009), singer, winner of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2020 and former member of Kids United Nouvelle Génération Charles Vanel (1892–1989), actor International relations Twin towns – sister cities Rennes is twinned with: Exeter, England, UK (since 1956) Rochester, New York, USA (since 1958) Erlangen, Germany (since 1964) Brno, Czech Republic (since 1965) Sendai, Japan (since 1967) Leuven, Belgium (since 1980) Sétif, Algeria (since 1982) Cork, Ireland (since 1982) Almaty, Kazakhstan (since 1991) Bandiagara Cercle, Mali (since 1995) Poznań, Poland (since 1998) Sibiu, Romania (since 1999) Jinan, China (since 2002) Other forms of cooperation Friendly towns within France Saint-Gilles-du-Mené, France (since 1978) Rennes-les-Bains, France (since 1985) Pacts of cooperation Huế, Vietnam (since 1992) Sponsorship Vouziers, France Rennes also has the only Institut Franco-Américain in France. Broadcasting facilities Transmitter Rennes-Thourie Cityscape See also Communes of the Ille-et-Vilaine department List of works of the two Folgoët ateliers References External links Official site City council website Parlement of Brittany Communes of Ille-et-Vilaine Cities in Brittany Cities in France Prefectures in France Gallia Lugdunensis