I became obsessed with visiting Saint-Malo, a seaside city in northern France, after reading Anthony Doerr’s novel All the Light We Cannot See. It tells the story of a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in Saint-Malo during WWII. The story is riveting, but it’s the author’s description of the ancient walled city, perched on a rocky promontory overlooking the English Channel (la Manche) that totally captivated me. Saint-Malo was my most anticipated stop on our cycling trip in northern Brittany and it did not disappoint.
We approach Saint-Malo from the resort town of Dinard where we load ourselves and our bikes onto the ferry for the short trip across the mouth of the Rance (river). I’m so excited as the fortified city gets closer. Its cathedral spire soars over the surrounding buildings just like I remember it from the book cover.
I’m well aware that Saint-Malo is one of Brittany’s biggest attractions and I try to temper my expectations. We pass through the impressive Porte Saint-Vincent, the main gate of eight entry gates to the fortified section of Saint-Malo, known as Intra-Muros (within the walls). It’s a beautiful sunny Saturday in mid-September and the place is bustling with visitors. People are lined up for ice cream, crammed into outdoor cafés, and they jam the narrow cobblestone streets. We dismount our bikes to avoid the cheerfully oblivious throngs. It’s not exactly the picture I had in mind but I can’t help being swept up by the vacationers’ last hurrah to summer. I shudder to think of what it’s like in peak holiday season.
We drop off our bikes at our guesthouse and climb the steps to the ramparts where we find a peaceful scene. While the crowds are eating and shopping in town, there are surprisingly few visitors strolling on the majestic wall that forms an almost two kilometre loop around the old city. Saint-Malo’s ramparts must surely be one of the top urban walks in France. On the ocean side, a string of dazzling beaches give way to stunning views; on the city side, the arresting architecture and historic monuments capture my imagination.
Saint-Malo’s roots go back to before Roman times and its original ramparts were born as early as the 12th century. After the great fire of 1661, the granite wall was completely rebuilt. It was enlarged in the 18th century by Garangeau, the engineer-architect and disciple of Sebastien Vauban, Louix XIV’s royal architect.
From the ramparts, we spy a beach bar overlooking the glorious Plage de Bon Secours. There are still tables available. We can’t believe our luck. We drink wine and bask in the late afternoon sun that casts a golden glow on the wall and buildings.
The swimming pool at Bon Secours beach is sublime. At high tide it’s barely visible save for the diving board platform; at low tide the water recedes from the beach and remains only inside the pool’s retaining walls. It looks so inviting that we go for a dip the next day. The water is darn cold but we love every shivering second.
The swimming pool isn’t the only thing that disappears at high tide; so do the sand spits that connect the city’s two offshore forts—Fort National and Fort du Petit Bé. Both forts are part of the defences that Vauban designed in the 17th century to protect Saint-Malo from British and Dutch fleets.
I’m drawn to the distinctive architecture of the buildings that border the ramparts—the uniform sand-colour granite, the attractively austere lines, and the steep roofs. We learn that some of them are historic mansions originally built by Saint-Malo’s notorious corsairs (pirates operating on behalf of the French Crown). The city’s importance as a seaport developed in the 16th century when piracy was an accepted part of warfare on the high seas. The corsairs regularly pillaged foreign ships in the English Channel, and many of Saint-Malo’s corsairs became wealthy men thanks to the spoils of piracy.
We find the best wide-angle view at the end of the city’s long jetty where locals are fishing and drinking beer. To the right of the jetty is what’s known as Corsairs’ Row or Maisons de Corsaires—a string of buildings originally owned by the Saint-Malo pirates.
Pirates are not Saint-Malo’s only famous seafarers. Perhaps some of my Canadian readers are up on their history more than I am. It turns out that the explorer Jacques Cartier is a Saint-Malo native son. He’s credited with the discovery of the Saint Lawrence estuary and in 1534 he claimed what is now Canada for France.
Statue of Jacques Cartier 
Chapel where Cartier prayed before his voyages
Getty Images
As fascinating as Saint-Malo’s pirates and explorers may be, I’m even more intrigued by its WWII history that caught my attention in Doerr’s book. In the chilling climax, the two main characters are trapped inside the walled city as it is ravaged by Allied Forces bombing in August 1944 (I won’t give away more). The Germans had occupied the city since 1940, and although by the end of the war less than 100 troops remained, the Allies believed the Germans had major armaments built up within the city walls. As a result, Saint-Malo was almost completely destroyed by American shelling and British naval gunfire. 80% of the historic old city was lost.
What happened after the war is astounding. Over a 12 year period from 1948-1960, the city was rebuilt brick by brick. Instead of modernizing the style of architecture, it was meticulously restored to its original aesthetic—the ramparts, cathedral, castle, mansions all replicated exactly. It’s hard to believe that most of what I’m seeing is not the original, and just a mere 60 years old. I’m in awe of the resolve that must have been needed to accomplish this feat. Saint-Malo’s striking natural beauty and location make it an enticing spot to visit, but it’s the city’s storied history that now places it among my most memorable European experiences.
If you go:
- If possible, avoid peak summer season and book in advance.
- Saint-Malo has plenty of accommodations both inside and outside the walled city, but for the most atmospheric stay book a place in Saint-Malo Intra-Muros (within the walls).
- Spend at least two full days in Saint-Malo and more if you want to explore the surrounding area.
- The passenger-only ferry to Dinard is a nice little excursion and offers great views.
- Saint-Malo makes a good base for discovering other attractions like Mont-Saint-Michel, Dinan, Cancale…
Next Posts: More highlights from our cycling journey from Morlaix to Mont-Saint-Michel: Cap d’Erquy, Pink Granite Coast…
References:
https://about-france.com/cities/saint-malo.htm
https://www.saint-malo-tourisme.co.uk/explore/a-unique-place-to-visit/the-ramparts-of-saint-malo
Writes of Passage 
Thank you Madam for sharing information about such a beautiful place and offering such useful tips for travelers.. 😊😊
The ramparts of the Castle you showed seems to predate the rest of the buildings. I feel the ramparts contain some Iberian, even possibly Moorish influence. Maybe some more research is needed.
The beaches and the swimming pool look pristine, but are equally risky considering the tidal effects. Have personal experience with those as well.
Overall, it’s a very scenic and quaint place, ideal for a relaxing vacation. Thank you once again madam for sharing your experiences.. 😊😊
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You are welcome; I’m delighted you enjoyed the post.
The original architecture is from various periods so it’s not surprising that there are some variations in appearance/age. As I mentioned in the post though, almost all the structures had to be rebuilt post-WWII. You’ll have to go check it out for yourself.
The tides are enormous in this region. I wouldn’t want to get stuck on those islands and have to wait it out!
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Rightly said Madam. I was about to find myself atop a rock which would eventually submerge in the tides, which necessitated me to race away from the sea.
Tides and extremely swift and stealthy. Carelessness is liable to be punished severely.
It’s sad to know that many old structures were destroyed in the World Wars. Hope such wars are never fought again.
Thank you so much Madam for patiently explaining all the details.. 😊😊
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Loved the book All The Light We Cannot See and am delighted to travel to Saint-Malo finally, albeit virtually, with you today on the blog. The sunlit image in the first pic made me gasp and set my expectations for visual ecstasy through the rest of the post. And you delivered once again! How I would love to approach this coast from Dinard aboard Amandla! I may have mentioned in an earlier post that I was supposed to sail Brittany during Yachtmaster school, but my co-student and I got the dates wrong and missed the boat :-(. More bummed about that now that I see your excellent blog post, but you’ve given me something to look forward to when the doors open again. The brilliance of your images of Saint-Malo today juxtaposed against the stark photo of the place at the end of World War II is mind-boggling. The rebuilding of the place brick by brick offers hope that we shall overcome.
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I’m so happy that Saint-Malo didn’t let me down. It can be disappointing when one has such high expectations of a place. I think our first late afternoon along the ramparts, having a glass of wine on the beach and seeing the sun’s stunning glow over the fortified city set the tone for me. And, when you see the place in person, you get a whole new appreciation of its rebuilding post WWII.
I’m sure you would love the approach from Dinard on the Amandla. It’s magical watching the city get closer and closer. I was so excited. I’m sure Mike and others thought I was out of my mind. You’ll just have to get back to that part of the world after your unfortunate mix up with the date (really kind of funny now but I’m sure it wasn’t then).
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That is the good thing about ‘f-ups’, always good for a story in the long run …after the pain disappears.
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Oh I loved this post! Thank you for taking me to St Malo. Wonderful photos, which I looked deep into imagining I was there, and the story. Best of all the reconstruction after WWII – what an inspired undertaking that was.
Hope you’re fine in these strange times we’re living in.
Alison
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Thank you Alison. It makes me happy to look at my Saint-Malo photos, especially during this crazy time.I also can’t help but think of the resilience that people developed by living through the hardships of war in places like Saint-Malo.
I assume you and Don are safely back in Vancouver? Hope you have a nice sunny spot to self isolate in this beautiful weather.Take care of yourselves!
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Yes, we’re back home, but not allowed out for another 9 days – but we can at least go into the garden on beautiful days like this.
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Great post and superb photos, Caroline. On our road trip around Brittany, we didn’t have enough time to visit Saint Malo. Our main focus was on Rennes, Vannes and, of course, Mont Saint Michel. Although there was a slight possibility to squeeze it in, we wanted a relaxing trip without too much crammed into it. I’m glad you had a great time cycling around this beautiful corner of the world. Thanks for sharing your experience and stay safe 😊 Aiva
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Thank you Aiva. I’m all for not cramming too much into a trip. I have read such wonderful accounts of Vannes and we had hoped to fit it in, but like you, thought it best not to load up the itinerary. It’s a good excuse to return to this beautiful part of France. All the best to you and your family; stay well!
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Amazing experience! That is a perfect itinerary that I have in mind for my trip to Saint-Malo. Will follow your footsteps!)))
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I’m happy that my post provided you with some inspiration for your Saint-Malo trip. Hope you have a great time.
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St Malo always had a certain belle époque vibe to me, something out of a Jules Verne book… and indeed it does! Love it and thanks for taking us there.
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So true. Visiting Saint-Malo feels like you’re walking into a novel from a bygone era. Glad you enjoyed the post and thanks for your comment.
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Wow you’ve convinced me both to read the book and visit Saint-Malo! I’ve only seen pictures of it before, but didn’t know much about it. I certainly didn’t know it was Cartier’s home town. Such beautiful architecture and interesting history. I love your excitement in this piece!
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It was cool to see the Canadian connection. There’s even a Quebec House along the city wall that honours this piece of history.
The book really got to me. Hope you enjoy it and make a trip to this part of France.
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They should explain those things in school too not just dates. I’m following the blog ‘Bonjour from Brittany’ on WordlPress. You’d enjoy it too.
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Thanks for the blog recommendation.
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When I learned French back in 2005, I became an avid Francophile. I even learned the tunes of the country’s national anthem! However, it took me a few years to know that there’s an interesting French city called Saint-Malo. This post of yours is actually the first blog post about this place that I’ve ever stumbled upon, and you’ve really convinced me not to give it a miss one day if I find myself exploring Brittany. Your photos are beautiful!
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Bama, I’m impressed with your interest and knowledge of France. Knowing the language will make your eventual trip even more enjoyable. I too have not come across other posts about Saint-Malo (except from googling for research). It’s a bit surprising given the beauty and historic value of the city. While Brittany is definitely a popular travel destination, the vast majority of visitors during our stay were domestic travellers (followed by a few Brits). I may be wrong here but I suspect that many international tourists head to Paris, Province, the Loire Valley or the French Riviera (especially for a first visit). I think Saint-Malo would have tremendous appeal for you. I’m glad I could entice you with my post.
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Wow, what a fascinating history and beautiful place!
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The combination of amazing history and scenic beauty makes Saint-Malo extra special for me.
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Sounds like an amazing place to visit and looks like you had beautiful weather too 😎
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The weather was fantastic. We were so lucky. Having said that, I saw photos of winter storms and the massive waves that pound the city walls—that would be cool to see too.
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