Paying a visit to Visoterra, a French site in French only) that lets people share travel experiences and helps them discover new ones, a piece on Petites Cites de Caractere (Small towns with character).
The Petites Cites de Caractere label was initially launched in Brittany in 1975 to shine a light on small towns rich on history, culture, vision but poor in means (budget) to promote their assets and attract visitors by pulling them together and benefiting of network effect.
Since its inception in 1975, the Petites Cites de Caractere idea has spread to all regions of France.
Some of the 'petites cites' are also Cites d'Art (Art towns).
One such city not far from Rennes is Becherel which has reinvented itself as a place where books and history reign supreme.
It was the first City of Books in France.
(* Photo of Becherel from city page -French only- on Cites d'Art website, copyright F.Hamon)