Do you love to be beside the seaside? Saint-Malo is the ideal place to ‘see the sea’ and all that it involves. Gaze at the scenery, gaze at historical naval sites or just do some navel-gazing. Your choice.

The old town

This is the historic Saint-Malo, the very heart of the town.

The Intra-Muros (the district ‘within the walls’) is the ‘old town’. It features narrow cobble-stoned streets and medieval buildings and is surrounded by fortified stone walls.

In the old town, you’ll find Cathédrale de Saint-Vincent, which dates from the 12th century and has later additions. The interior is impressive, especially the superb stained glass windows. The Cathedral is a listed Monument of France.

There’s also the bustling Place Chateaubriand, named for the famous François–René Chateaubriand (1768–1848), a French author and statesman. And yes, Chateaubriand steak was named after him, too; the dish was first created by his chef.

The Château de Saint-Malo (Saint-Malo Castle), also within the walls, was built by the Duke of Britttany, starting in 1424. It has been added to and used for many purposes over the centuries. It is not open to the public at the moment but is a splendid sight.

Would you like a little culture? There are several art galleries in the old town: Galerie B-Raku (with Breton and Japanese ceramics); Galerie Alpheios (mainly photography); and Galerie du Marais (for contemporary art). The International House of Poets and Writers also has a range of exhibits.

It’s all about the sea

It’s not surprising to find that Saint-Malo is very much focused on its historical importance as a maritime port.

The Privateer’s House

La Demeure de Corsaire was built in 1725 and once belonged to François Auguste Magon. He was a corsaire, or privateer – a shipowner who was basically a legal pirate, licensed by the government (in his case, Louis XIV) to raid and pillage the enemy.

Magon’s house is now a museum and contains fascinating and well-presented displays about the history of privateering and piracy in Saint-Malo’s past.

National Fort

This a fortress located on a small island just off the coast. It has been important in France’s defences, from its completion in 1693. Although sold to private owner in 1927, it was used by the Germans to hold hostages in August 1944.

Today, it is open to visitors and can be reached on foot, at low tide, from the Plage de l’Éventail.

The Aquarium

Don’t miss the Grand Aquarium, which is dedicated to marine life of all kinds. It has live sea creatures and interactive exhibits. It’s great fun as well as educational.

You can have lots of fun in Saint-Malo

There are plenty of things to do – enough to fill a three or four day trip, if you have the time.

Explore the coast

Saint-Malo’s coastal location means you can walk for miles along beautiful beaches: Plage de l’Éventail, Plage de Bon-Secours, Plage du Môle and Grande Plage du Sillon (one of the most beautiful).

Enjoy the local food

There are some great places to eat. You can’t leave without trying the area’s signature dish: thin, crispy crêpes. They’re made with buckwheat flour, which comes from a starchy plant (not related to wheat at all) that grows very well in Brittany.

Try them in the simplest way, with delicious salted butter. Or you can have the sweet version, sprinkled with fine sugar and then rolled up. For a more substantial meal, order the savoury galette, which is filled with your choice of ham, cheese, sausage, egg or seafood, then folded twice. Crêpes are best enjoyed with cold local cider.

Just relax and revive

After seeing the sights of Saint-Malo, you can pamper yourself with a luxury face or body treatment. Thermes Marins is a health resort by the Sillon beach. It has a swimming pool, spa, hammam (Turkish steam bath) and sauna and it specialises in seawater therapy. You can make a day visit or book a package for a longer stay.

Obviously though, you could just lie on the beach or find a congenial bar from which to see the sea.

Further afield

Mont Saint-Michel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You would be sorry to miss a visit to this stunning island, with its medieval village and the steep streets that lead to the abbey at the peak. Just the spectacular views from the top are worth the trip.

It’s about 55 kms (34 miles) from Saint-Malo, and accessible by car or by bus, which is quick, cheap and much more convenient.

The Channel Islands are easily accessible from Saint-Malo. Why not travel to Jersey (61 km; 38miles) or Guernsey (106 km; 66 miles)? You can organise a day trip by ferry.

Dinard is a pretty seaside town across the estuary and just 12 km from Saint-Malo. It’s known for its Belle Époque architecture and its relaxed ‘holiday’ atmosphere. There are great views of Dinard from La Plage du Môle.

See more Francy That! suggestions for Places To Go.

Information

LOCATION: Brittany (on the northern coast)
DISTANCE FROM PARIS: 360 kms (224 miles)
POPULATION: 45,000
NEAREST AIRPORT: Dinard-Pleurtuit-Saint-Malo Airport (DNR) – 12 km (7.5 miles) to the south
NEAREST TRAIN STATION: Gare de Saint-Malo in the city centre.
TOURIST INFORMATION: Esplanade Saint-Vincent.
MARKETS: (various) from Tuesday to Saturday
MUST SEE: Beaches, Intra-muros district, historical buildings.