Sign in with Facebook"St Malo, on the Brittany north coast" Saint-Malo by Kate-Me
Saint-Malo Travel Guide: 228 reviews and 744 photos
The Old walled town of Saint Malo sits on a granite rock situated on the rugged coast bordering the English Channel called the Cote D'emeraude (Emerald Coast in English). The city is situated on the North coast of France (quite close to the very famous Mount-St. Michel, which is about 30 kms away on the border of Brittany and Normandy)
St Malo was named after a Welsh monk and bishop named MacLaw who fled to Brittany in 538.
The fortified city became very famous in 1590 when the St Maloans declared their city an independent republic with the motto "Neither French nor Breton, but a Corsair am I".
This independent republic only lasted 4 years, but the local people acquired a strong reputation as warriors.
During the 16th-18th centuries, St Malo prospered well from its navigators, traders and privateers.
Jacques Cartier, who sailed the St Lawrence river and visited the sites of present day Quebec City and Montréal - and is known as the discoverer of Canada, lived in and sailed from Saint-Malo.
Brittany had been a Celtic duchy for over 1000 years before it was annexed by France in 1532, and so it has its own culture, linked to that of places like Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Cornwall.
Their languages and customs are closely related, and indeed the climate too.
The walled city looks very authentic, but is actually about 90% reconstructed and restored. During World War 2 in 1944 in a battle between the German and American troops, 90% of it was destroyed.
- Pros:Walled city and intact (even if rather re built)
- Cons:Pretty touristy inside the walls, even if the tourists are mostly on foot
- In a nutshell:A good experience to spend time inside a walled old town
Reviews (11)
Souvenirs
Shopping
(1)
St Vincent's Cathedral
Things to Do
(5)
The Cathedral has some beautiful stained glass windows and houses the remains of Jacques Cartier, the explorer who... more travel advice
Visit the Chateau
Things to Do
(5)
As with many French chateaux we visited, we found the exterior far more interesting than the interior. more travel advice
Dog at the pub
Favorites
(1)
We just happened to look out our hotel window and spot the scenes below with the dog, who waited patiently for some time... more travel advice
Travelogues (2)
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Written Aug 8, 2006
8 photos
Views in the old town of St Malo
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Written Aug 9, 2006
8 photos
The walk to St Servan
- 1
Kate-Me's Related Pages
Saint-Malo Travel Guide
Member Travel Pages
- "Saint Malo - Cite Corsaire"
- "Of fortresses and islands"
- "Corsair City"
- "Neither French, nor Breton but Corsair I am!"
- "St-Malo"
- "Saint Malo - Historic Sea Town"
- "The Walls of St Malo"
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Comments (6)
Nice memories of holidays in France that took us to St Malo.
It was intersting to read your warning about the fast moving tides. The pictures were very demonstrative too.
wow i wanna go NOW! ahaha lovely tips, good infos, ie tidal warning. am all excited bout going! thanks!
kate what is the e-mail addressto purchase the souvenirs. otherwise this is not helpful.
Meilleurs voeux pour 2007. Belles photos de St-Malo. Mais où est passé Surcouf le corsaire?
I like these old towns and the Bretagne..the Seagull shot is awesom, the Castle looks so small :-))