Saint Malo Tourist 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.
Saint Malo Castle
Inside the walls at the northeast corner of Saint Malo old town, near the handsome Porte St-Vincent, is Place Chateaubriand. The Hôtel France et Chateaubriand occupies the site of the house in which Chateaubriand was born.On the east side of the square is the massive bulk of the castle (14th and 15th C.), with four towers. In one of the towers, the Tour Quic-en- Groigne at the northwest corner, is the Galerie Quic-en-Groigne, which has interesting displays, with wax figures, illustrating events in the history of the town. In the southwest wing of the castle is the Municipal Museum, also mainly devoted to the history of the town. From here visitors can gain access to the towers, from which there are fine views.
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).
Ramparts
In Saint Malo, from the Porte St Thomas, immediately north of Place Chateaubriand, and from the other town gates, steps lead up to the ramparts, which in some parts date from the 12th century and were rebuilt by Vauban in the 17th. A walk around the complete circuit takes between half an hour and an hour. From the ramparts, and particularly from the projecting bastions on the north and west sides, there are magnificent views of the town, the estuary of the Rance, with Dinard on the opposite bank, and the sea and offshore islands. The views are particularly fine at high tide, which is usually 7-8m/23-26ft above low tide but at the spring tides may be over 15m/50ft higher.
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.
Saint Malo Festival
St Malo has a Carnation Festival in July.
Surroundings
Around Saint Malo are churches and boat trip.
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.
St Servan
South of St Malo, beyond the southern part of the harbor, is the district of St Servan, with the church of Ste Croix (18th-19th C.; fine interior). St Servan, like Paramé, was incorporated in St- Malo in 1967.West of the church, on the south side of a peninsula, is Port St-Père. On the southeast side of the harbor is the massive Tour de Solidor, which actually consists of three towers; long used as a prison, it now houses the Musée International du Long Cours Cap Hornier, with exhibits illustrating the history of the voyages of discovery and seafaring on the high seas.
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.
Rance River Cruise
A cruise up the river Rance outside Saint Malo, passing Dinard and the tidal power station, to Dinan and back is strongly to be recommended. The return trip, without disembarking, takes about four hours.
Map of Saint Malo Attractions
Map - St-Malo
