Vitré is a small medieval town on the eastern edge of Brittany, where the old duchy met Normandy, Maine, and Anjou. It is compact, steep in places, and still has the feel of a frontier town built for defence and trade.
The castle is the obvious focus. Its towers rise above the Vilaine valley and the old streets press close around it, especially Rue d'Embas and Rue de la Baudrairie, where timber-framed houses lean over narrow lanes. Vitré has the official French "Ville d'art et d'histoire" label, but the appeal is simple: the old centre still looks whole.
You do not need several days here. Come from Rennes or on the way across eastern Brittany, walk the streets, visit Château de Vitré, step into Notre-Dame, and give yourself time to sit in the square below the castle.