After the Marathon de Vannes: Rennes and Saint-Malo
The Route: Vannes → Rennes → Saint-Malo → Rennes (airport/onward rail) Logistics: Direct or regional rail Vannes to Rennes, then a separate direct train Rennes to Saint-Malo, around 45 minutes. Rennes itself has good onward high-speed rail connections toward Paris. Marathon Month: September Duration: 3 nights
Vannes ──(rail)──> Rennes ──(~45 mins rail)──> Saint-Malo ──(~45 mins rail)──> Rennes ──(onward rail/flight)
This longer extension takes runners away from the Golfe du Morbihan entirely, first inland to Rennes, Brittany's regional capital, then out to the walled port city of Saint-Malo on the Channel coast. The whole route runs on rail, useful for anyone not wanting to hire a car for the extension.
September on the north Brittany coast tends to be cooler and breezier than the Gulf of Morbihan further south, so pack accordingly; Saint-Malo's exposed ramparts in particular can feel considerably windier than a sheltered Vannes street.
Night One: Rennes
Rennes' old town is compact and largely flat, a mix of half-timbered medieval streets and grand 18th-century squares rebuilt after a major fire. The Parc du Thabor, a large formal garden near the centre, offers an easy, level walk with plenty of benches, a good low-effort option for a first evening.
Where to stay: Hôtel Balthazar, centrally located, puts the old town and station both within easy reach. A simpler option near the station suits a one-night stopover focused on minimal walking.
Where to eat: A crêperie in the old town is the obvious, low-effort choice in a city that takes its Breton food seriously; look for a savoury galette followed by a sweet crêpe rather than anything heavier.
Nights Two and Three: Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo's walled old town, the Intra-Muros, sits behind ramparts that can be walked in a single roughly 1.7km circuit, though the walk involves stone steps at several access points; treat the full circuit as optional rather than mandatory if legs are still sore, and use the flatter streets inside the walls instead where needed. The beaches directly below the walls are flat and walkable at low tide, offering a genuinely different, level alternative to the ramparts themselves.
Fort National, accessible on foot at low tide via a causeway across the sand, gives a striking view back at the walled city, though the crossing and the fort itself involve uneven ground; check tide times before planning a visit.
Where to stay: Hôtel Le Nautilus, inside the Intra-Muros walls, keeps everything within a short, flat walk. For a quieter alternative just outside the old town, a smaller guesthouse near the beach offers easier road access.
Where to eat: A seafood restaurant inside the Intra-Muros, moules-frites or a full plateau de fruits de mer, is the obvious choice given Saint-Malo's fishing heritage. For something simpler, a crêperie in the old town matches the wider Breton theme of the trip.
Getting Home
Return to Rennes by direct train, around 45 minutes, then connect onward by high-speed rail toward Paris or a return flight from Rennes' own airport. Check current timetables before travelling, since Saint-Malo's direct services to Rennes run at reduced frequency outside peak times.