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

Cultural life

International relations

Redon is twinned with: