Saint-Malo Walled City

About this place

The walled city, or Intra-Muros, is the historic heart of Saint-Malo on the English Channel coast of Brittany, northwest France, about 64 km northwest of Rennes and 38 km west of Mont-Saint-Michel in a straight line. The city first stood on a granite island linked to the mainland only by a narrow sand spit and tidal mudflats. From 1509 a road was built along this spit, which over the centuries became a permanent causeway joining the old town to the coast. Saint-Malo long grew rich from seafaring and trade, and from its sailors known as privateers. Most of the old town was rebuilt in grey stone in the mid-20th century to its original look. High granite ramparts ring the city, with tall old merchants' houses behind them under steep grey roofs and many chimneys. From the top of the walls the sea and its small islands stretch out, and at low tide Fort National and the island of Grand Bé can be reached on foot across the sand. Visitors walk the whole circuit of the ramparts in about an hour and explore the cobbled lanes and restaurants. At low tide they walk out to the nearby islands, keeping an eye on the tide times, as the water comes in fast.