Halles Martenot is an ensemble of two market halls located at Place des Lices, at the bottom of the square in the northwest of Rennes’s Centre quarter. Built by Jean-Baptiste Martenot from an unspecified start date until July 1870, the halls were renovated in 1988 and classified as historical monuments in 1990. The architecture is inspired by Victor Baltard’s Halles de Paris and combines granite, brick, glass, and iron. The two pavilions are separated by a distance that creates an open alley toward Place de la Trinité. Each pavilion has an individual area with nine bays in depth and seven in width. The south hall is designated for butcher trades with permanently installed stands, while the north hall can be used as a congress space with a seated capacity of a specific number. The site has a long market history, with traces of a cattle market recorded in 1483 and earlier wooden halls before the 1720 Rennes fire.

◎ Nearby Objects

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  Place des Lices 30 m away
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  Porte Mordelaise 100 m away
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  Rennes Cathedral 110 m away
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  Basilique Saint-Sauveur de Rennes 150 m away
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  Hôtel de Blossac 200 m away

History and Protection of Halles Martenot

Halles Martenot is an ensemble of two halls located at Place des Lices in Rennes. The halls were built by Jean-Baptiste Martenot, with construction ending in July 1870. Martenot also renovated the halls in 1988. In 1990, the two pavilions were classified as historical monuments, confirming their heritage value within the city.

Architecture and Uses of Halles Martenot

Halles Martenot are located at the bottom of Place des Lices in the northwest of the Centre quarter of Rennes. The complex consists of two pavilion structures separated by a distance that creates an open alley toward Place de la Trinite. Each hall has an individual area with nine bays in depth and seven in width, accommodating up to a specified number. The architecture is inspired by Victor Baltard's Halles de Paris and combines granite, brick, glass, and iron. The south hall is designated for butcher trades and includes permanently installed stands, while the north hall can be used as a congress space with a seated capacity of a specific number.

History and Use of Halles Martenot

The site of the Halles Martenot has long been associated with market activity, with traces of a cattle market recorded there in 1483. A first wooden hall was erected before the Rennes fire of 1720, and in 1828 the municipality planned a reconstruction to support the expansion of the market. The halls were later classified as historic monuments, underlining their heritage status.

The complex was altered again in the early 20th century, when a third slab was built. This slab was destroyed during renovations in 1988, when an underground parking area was created beneath the new pedestrian slab. The parking has an unspecified capacity.

Today, the northeast hall, known as the halle Martenot, hosts cultural and event activities. The southwest hall contains butcher stalls that are used only one morning per week. The halls also have a place in local public life: in 1977, Edmond Herve ran for Mayor promising to preserve the halles.