[3] The name Vannes comes from the Veneti, a seafaring Celtic people who lived in the south-western part of Armorica in Gaul before the Roman invasions.

[5] At about 150 BC the evidence of trade (such as Gallo-Belgic coins) with the Thames estuary area of Great Britain dramatically increased.

From the 5th to the 7th century, the remaining Gauls were displaced or assimilated by waves of immigrant Britons fleeing the Saxon invasions of Britain.

Under the Breton name Gwened (also derived from the Veneti), the town was the center of an independent principality or kingdom variously called Bro-Wened ("Vannes") or Bro-Ereg ("land of Gwereg"), the latter for a prominent member of its dynasty, which claimed descent from Caradog Strongarm.

The realm annexed Cornouaille for a time in the early 6th century but was permanently joined with Domnonia under its king and Saint Judicaël around 635.

The city's defending commander, Olivier IV de Clisson, was captured by the English but finally released.

Train The Vannes railway station offers connections to Quimper, Rennes, Nantes, Paris and several regional destinations.

The Transport express régional or TER is a slower train to join railway stations in the close neighborhood, such as Auray or Questembert.

Bike Vannes has a public bicycle rental program, called Vélocéo based on the same idea as the Paris Vélib'.