City areas
Saint Malo is not a small city, but tourists will find only several of its areas to be of any interest. The most visited part of the city is undoubtedly the Old Town, that ancient core of Saint Malo which is still walled, and crossed by a hive-like maze of narrow streets, almost permanently crowded.
Interest Areas
- Port Area
General info: The port of Saint-Malo is a regular, fully-functioning port, and of national interest, as well. It can stand comparison to Brest for that matter, and is considered to be one of the most popular pleasure ports of France. But its location in the center of the city impedes its commercial development, because it can’t handle hazardous material so close to an urban area and there are always a lot of tourists underhand.
Attractions: If you make your way to the harbor, you can book tours of the Channel Islands. There are car ferries leaving for Jersey Island (English territory), from March to October.
- The Old Town
General info: Most tourists come here to walk along the ramparts of the walls still surrounding this ancient part of Saint-Malo. You get the best view of the bay and of the islets at the mouth of the river Rance from here. These still sturdy looking walls were built in more than one century: most are from the 14th century, but they were reconstructed in the 17th and restored in the 19th. A good place to begin your tour here would be the 15th-century Gate of St. Vincent (Porte St-Vincent).
Attractions include: the old Saint Malo Fortifications, Porte St. Vincent, the St. Malo Castle (Château de St-Malo)
- Island Area
General info: Watch out for when the low tide is on and then you can walk to the Ile du Grand-Bé – it will take you a mere 15 minutes at a leisurely pace. This is where they buried one of Saint-Malo most famous citizens, Chateaubriand. The bare simplicity of the tomb is touching, considering the deeds of the man. As you stand on this island and look to the horizon, you’ll have an impressive view of the Emerald coast.
Attractions include: tomb of Chateaubriand