a town of France, in Bretagne, and capital of that province. Before the revolution it had a bishop's see, two abbeys, a parliament, and a mint. It is very populous; the houses are six or seven stories high, and the suburbs of larger extent than the town itself. The cathedral church is large, and the parliament-house a handsome structure. The great square belonging to it is surrounded with handsome houses. There is a tower, formerly a pagan temple, which now contains the town-clock. It is seated on the river Vilaine, which divides it into two parts, and was anciently fortified, but the walls are now in ruins, and the ditch nearly filled up. The siege of the city by Edward III. king of England, is very celebrated in history. The English and Breton army consisted of 40,000 men; and nevertheless, after having remained before it six months, were obliged to retire without success. E. Long. o. 23. N. Lat. 48.7.

RENET. See RUNNET.