Saint Malo Attractions
The Breton port of St-Malo has a magnificent situation on a former island now joined to the mainland at the mouth of the broad river Rance, facing the town of Dinard across the river to the west. Still surrounded by its old walls, it preserves the aspect of a fortified coastal town of the Middle Ages.
During the Second World War the old town was largely destroyed, with the exception of the walls, but was rebuilt after the war in its original style, with narrow little streets and tall granite houses.
The town takes its name from a Gallic monk named Maclow who became bishop of Aleth in the sixth century, Aleth was the predecessor of the present town of St-Malo, which was founded about 1150 on a nearby rocky island. St Malo's heyday was in the 16th-18th centuries, when Jacques Cartier (1491-1557), a native of the town, discovered Canada (1534) and established some of his fellow-citizens as its first settlers, and when other daring seamen from St-Malo were sailing the seas in all directions. The writer and statesman François- René de Chateaubriand (1768-1848) was born in St Malo.
During the Second World War the old town was largely destroyed, with the exception of the walls, but was rebuilt after the war in its original style, with narrow little streets and tall granite houses.
The town takes its name from a Gallic monk named Maclow who became bishop of Aleth in the sixth century, Aleth was the predecessor of the present town of St-Malo, which was founded about 1150 on a nearby rocky island. St Malo's heyday was in the 16th-18th centuries, when Jacques Cartier (1491-1557), a native of the town, discovered Canada (1534) and established some of his fellow-citizens as its first settlers, and when other daring seamen from St-Malo were sailing the seas in all directions. The writer and statesman François- René de Chateaubriand (1768-1848) was born in St Malo.
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Ramparts
These ramparts date, in some places, from the 12th C. A walk of the entire circuit will provide lovely views.
Beaches
In Saint Malo, below the west side of the ramparts is the Bonsecours bathing beach, with a swimming pool.
From the Castle the Grande Plage extends eastward to Paramé. On an island off its western end is Fort National, built by Vauban in 1689 (accessible on foot only at low tide).
To the east of the old walled town is the Harbor, with several basins.
From the Castle the Grande Plage extends eastward to Paramé. On an island off its western end is Fort National, built by Vauban in 1689 (accessible on foot only at low tide).
To the east of the old walled town is the Harbor, with several basins.
Facilities
Beach
Place Vauban
In Saint Malo, immediately west of the castle, in Place Vauban, is an interesting Aquarium, built into the town walls, opposite which is an "Exotarium". Southwest of the castle is the parish church of St Vincent, formerly a cathedral (14th and 15th C., with a facade of 1713).
Le Petit Aquarium
Place Vauban
F-35400 St Malo
France
Place Vauban
F-35400 St Malo
France
Hours
February 3 to June 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
July 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 |
September 1 to December 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Always closed on:
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Saint Malo Surroundings
Corniche d'Aleth
A magnificent promenade, the Corniche d'Aleth, encircles the Aleth peninsula, offering wide ranging views. On the west side of the peninsula, on the site of the Gallo-Roman town of Aleth, is the Fort de la Cité, which was strengthened and stubbornly defended by German forces during the Second World War.
Grand Bré
Northwest of Saint Malo, on the island of Grand Bré (a 20 minutes' walk through the shallows at low tide), is the lonely tomb of Chateaubriand. To the west is the smaller island of Petit Bré.
