The French state has finalized the sale of the Palais Saint-Melaine in Rennes, a historic monument acquired in 1793, to a local developer who will convert it into housing and offices. Located near Thabor Park, the property had served various public functions before being deemed unnecessary in 2021. This deal highlights the state's challenges in offloading its real estate holdings.
In Rennes, Brittany's capital, the French state signed on December 15 the transfer of the Palais Saint-Melaine, a building it has held since the 1793 Revolution. Initially constructed in the 1670s within a religious enclosure and expanded around 1720, this elegant structure once housed the bishopric before coming under public control. It later served as a museum, law faculty, and academy rectorate, but poor maintenance left it in disrepair.
Deemed unnecessary for public service in 2021, the palace, with its garden and courtyard, has been acquired by the local developer Groupe Bâtisseurs d'Avenir. The firm plans a full renovation to create housing and offices, returning the site to private hands after over 230 years of state use. Positioned near the expansive Thabor Park, this vacant property underscores the government's push to divest its extensive real estate amid fiscal pressures.
Yet such sales remain infrequent and inadequate. For instance, Caen's former prison is also on the market, but the administration struggles to attract buyers, exacerbating financial woes. The Rennes transaction thus closes a historical chapter while exposing flaws in public asset management.
