Best of Saint-MaloThe Corsair’s Country
Saint-Malo is a port city in Brittany, in France’s northwest. Tall granite walls surround the old town, which was once a stronghold for privateers (pirates approved by the king). The Saint-Malo Cathedral, in the center of the old town, is built in Romanesque and Gothic styles and features stained-glass windows depicting city history. Nearby is La Demeure de Corsaire, an 18th-century privateer’s house and museum.
Lets Explore The Best Things To Do In Saint-Malo
When planning your visit to Western France, make sure to include Saint-Malo on your trip! Built on a rock standing in a naturally defensive position at the mouth of the River Rance, Saint-Malo is a city whose roots go back thousands of years. Nicknamed the Corsair City, it has a long-time connection with explorers and sailors. Jacques Cartier, a Breton explorer who claimed what is now Canada for France, grew up in Saint-Malo. Today’s city got its name from a Welsh monk by the name of Maclou (Maclovius). Maclovius was one of the many Celts who came over to Brittany during the late Roman era from Britain. In the 17th century, the port of Saint-Malo had become rich from transatlantic trade.
Follow in the footsteps of famous seafarers and pirates, grab your bucket and spade and head to the beach, enjoy fabulous regional cuisine and fall head over heels for the maritime magic of St-Malo.
Walking Around Saint-Malo Walls
The ramparts go all around the old part of Saint-Malo and from a circuit of 1.75 kilometres. Go up for panoramas of the sea, the Grand Bé island, Fort National, Dinard across the water and the magnificent granite homes of the city’s wealthy ship-owners, and come down if you see a shop or crêperie that takes your fancy. Grande’Porte on the eastern side is flanked by two chunky bastions and guards the narrow finger of land that links the walled city what are now Saint-Malo’s suburbs.
On one side are the town’s narrow streets. On the other, magnificent views of the beaches, the port and the forts. From Saint-Vincent gateway, at the entrance to the city, the port basins and Saint-Servan unfold. Between Saint-Louis and Saint-Philippe bastions, the view opens onto the estuary and Dinard. Beaches stretch out at the foot of the ramparts As far as the Bidouane tower. When the tide is low, the sand dries out to the islands of Grand Bé and Petit Bé. When you reach the castle, the large Sillon beach spreads out before you.
Plage Du Sillon
Plage Du Sillon is 3 km long, it is the largest sandy beach in Saint-Malo. The beach of Sillon includes the Grande Plage, the beach of Hoguette and the beach of Rochebonne. The beach of Sillon is pleasant for swimming, and offers good conditions for windy activities: kite flying, sand yachting, windsurfing
The Landscapes and activities change according to the tides. At low tide, the shore is full of holidaymakers who take the sun, walk on the exposed sea bottom, collecting shells and crabs, practise sports and ride on sandy yachts, which are so popular here. With the high tide the sea covers two thirds of the beach. It’s not safe to be in the water at this time, as the sea moves very fast and pulls into its abyss everything in its path with force. To ensure the safety of holidaymakers on the beach, it has three lifeguard stations working 24 hours a day. Usually, tourists watch the high tide, strolling along the promenade, or from the terraces of numerous coastal cafes.
Château de Saint-Malo
The Chateau de St Malo is attached to the Quic-en-Groigne tower and is a symbol of royal power. It was built between 1424 and 1690, first by Jean V, the Duke of Brittany and then by Duke Francois II who built the first tower. It is now the Musée d’Histoire de St-Malo and is where you’ll find interesting facts and exhibitions examining the maritime history of the city as well as the 19th century writers of which Chateaubriand was well known. The whole chateau experience is heightened by the lookout towers offering stunning views of the old city.
Grand Be
Grand Bé, an islet a few strides from the ramparts. This place has a particularity: It is an islet on some part of the day and a few hours later it becomes fully accessible by foot fore the low tied. It’s great to see both “versions” of Le Grand Be. Make sure to check before the visit what time it’s possible to visit Grand Be on a certain day (what time it’s a low tide moment ) and when it becomes an island again.
Many come to Grand Bé to see the tomb of François-René, vicomte de Chateaubriand, a renowned French writer, diplomat and politician who was buried on the island. His work had a major influence on the French literature in the 19th century, and, funnily enough, his passion for food has led for the ‘Chateaubriand steak’ to have been named after him.
The Historic Centre
The historic centre of Saint Malo is a living city, with residents, shops and services, so it is not entirely traffic free.
Here you can stroll through cobbled streets, overlooked by magnificent granite houses. In the historic center you can admire the thirteenth-century cathedral of Saint Vincent, and the houses of the eighteenth century. If you want to make shopping or to get something to eat, you will find many craft shops and quaint bars and restaurants.
How To Get
By Air
Ryanair serves Dinard-Pleurtuit-St-Malo Airport, 13 km away. There is no public transportation to/from the airport. You can use the taxi, the standard fare to the train station in Saint-Malo costs about €22, and a ride to the walled city costs about €25.
If you don’t want to make a taxi ride, you can walk 2.8 km to Pleurtuit and take a bus to Saint-Malo, connecting through Dinard, the cost it’s about €2.10 to €4.20, depending on the connections made.
By Train
Saint-Malo’s train station is located over a kilometer south of the Intramuros area, but it’s an easy 20-min walk. There are a few direct rail services daily from Paris in Gare de Montparnasse, which take about three hours. Instead, starting from Rennes there are hourly commuter services to Saint Malo, the cost is about 50 min €12).
By Ferry Boat
From the UK you can arrive from Poole on Condor Ferries. Leaving from Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries. From Jersey & Guernsey you can take Condor Ferries which offers direct routes from both islands. The travel takes from 6 to 13 hours depending on the time and on the date of travel. The trip includes a transfer at Jersey (Island just north of Saint-Malo) to get to St Malo. Ferries run everyday, sometimes twice a day. Price ranges from £40-59 depending on the day of travel, one way. With Brittany Ferries, from Portsmouth leaving at 8:15pm, every day except Tuesday. It takes approximately 11 hours. Price range from about £25-30, but prices can go up on weekends.
FONTS: https://wikitravel.org/it/Pagina_principale
GALLERY
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