Things to Do in St-malo

This 12th century Roman Catholic monument was once the seat of the Bishop of Saint-Malo. Since it’s initial construction, it’s been rebuilt and added to, and you can clearly see influences of Gothic, High Gothic and Renaissance architecture. In WWII it was bombed and destroyed almost completely and had to be rebuilt – that took 20 years. Today you can see:

• Jacques Cartier’s Tomb
• Jacques Cartier Memorial Plaque
• 18th century statue of the Virgin with Child
• Pretty stained glass windows
• Statue of Our Lady of the Great Door

The city walls were mostly built in the 18th century by French architect Vauban. There are multiple places (stairs) where you can climb up to or down from the walls. With fantastic views over the old town, the sea and the coast, this is easily the city’s most popular attraction. One of the more popular places to start the climb is at St. Thomas’ Gate. As you walk the walls, you should take in the following:

• The Fort Nationale
• The Bidouane Tower
• Robert Surcouf’s statue. He’s pointing at the British Army.
• The Quebec House – Saint Malo’s Canadian legacy.
• Out to the sea, you should be able to spot the islands of Grand Be and Small Be.
• Bon Secours Beach
• The Bastion of Holland, and the statue of Jacques Cartier, discoverer of Canada.
• The Porte de Dinan harbour
• The Bastion Saint-Louis, and the statue of Duguay-Trouin.
• The home of Alfeld the Pirate

On the whole, if you stroll leisurely and don’t go inside any building, a loop of the walls should not take you more than an hour.

11,000 marine animals covering about 600 species are housed in this fantastic aquarium. The marine world is divided up by ecosystems – cold and temperate seas, mangroves, tropics, and a ship wreck! At the touch pool you can get up close and personal with rays and sea stars. There’s a pool that rings around you, and houses turtles and sharks. You can hire the venue for personal or corporate events. And definitely check out the Nautibus, a mini-submersible.

The island on which this Fort stands is called Îlette. Once, a lighthouse stood here, and an execution ground. Later, in the 17th century, under the King’s orders, they built a fort here to augment the city’s defences. In WWII, they fort was taken over by Nazis who briefly held over a hundred locals prisoner; these were later released. These stories, and other tales of military life at the fort will be narrated to you. Though it’s a famous monument, and you can visit it easily during summer, there’s not much to do here. The only way to see the fort is by enrolling in a guided tour. Call the attraction to arrange for one.

This is one of the city’s most surreal attractions – a series of carved, grotesque heads that face out towards the sea.They were crafted by Father AdolpheFouré, who was struck deaf and mute after a stroke, and retired to Rotheneuf. For some inexplicable reason (perhaps he was inspired by the legends of the pirates along this coast), he took chisel to stone here. For thirteen years between 1984-1907, he worked on transforming this 500 metre square of coast in to a strange outdoor fresco of about 300 statues. Some of these figures, such as Jacques Cartier and Saint Budoc, are recognisable, but others are not. Wind and sea-spray are slowly wearing away these rocks now.

Saint-Malo’s biggest beach is actually made up of three smaller beaches - the Grande beach, the Hoguette and the Rochebonne beach.At low tide, it’s one of the city’s most popular hangouts. The water is a lovely blue; the sand is fine and clean; the entire stretch bustles with activity. The beach stretches from Intramuros to Parame. Kite surfing and yachting are popular activities here. A major sight to take in during your walk along this beach is the dyke and the many beautiful villas located alongside. Stroll, jog, cycle or just people walk. 

This 18th century house was once a pirate’s house. Or at least, a corsair that Britain considered a pirate, and France considered an effective patriot - François-AugusteMagon de la Lande. Take the guided tour – it’s fun and informative, and tells a story that frankly needs a movie to do it justice. Apart from the story though, you’ll get to see various historical artefacts, a secret stairway, arms and armour, and a real pirate’s chest.

The Fort de la Citéd'Alet, was built in the 18th century, but became famous only after its Nazi occupation during WWII.

Today, one of the fort’s bunkers has been converted into a history museum. Tours of this museum are mandatorily guided. Occasionally, the museum will play a 45 minute war documentary in French (The Battle of St. Malo). Some of the tours conducted are in English, but the only way to know which is to call the attraction before the time and day if your intended visit. It’s mainly a museum of artefacts though - German, French, Allied weapons, uniforms and equipment – and through these, the violent story of St. Malo’s occupation during WWII unfolds.

The rest of the fort is a pleasant walking area. There are also camping facilities all over the area. Check the attraction website for more.

This 17th century horse shoe shaped fort is set on a tidal island. It has helped repel at least one attack, when an Anglo-Dutch force tried to invade the mainland in 1695. Though made a historical monument in 1920, it wasn’t until 2000 that efforts were made to clean the fort up.

Today, you can access the fort at times of very low tide, but most people just tend to enjoy its sight from the ramparts of St. Malo. At the fort, you can enjoy a panorama of the Emerald Coast. If you take the guided tour, the guide will explain the fort’s defences, tell you the story of its most famous attack, and of military life at the fort. The tour lasts about 30 minutes. 

This is the other half of the historical collection shared between the St. Malo Castle and the Solidor Tower. Most of it’s permanent exhibition is concerned with St. Malo’s most famous personalities, usually intellectuals or sailors. There’s a dungeon and a covered walkway. The first floor has a Gobelin’s tapestry, and a 17th century chapel. Other highlights include:

• Accounts of historical lifestyles and industries such as fishing, oyster farming, tobacco farming.
• Antique furniture.
• Portraits and statues.
• Accounts of voyages for Newfoundland; accounts of the slave trade.
• A 15th century model of the city.

In beautiful, vaulted rooms you’ll discover the magic of sea shells. There are thousands of these on exhibit here, collected from corals, fossils, crustaceans, sponges, starfish, sea urchins, pearl oysters, and shellfish. Children have the option of a treasure hunt. There are also lovely shell decorated artefacts such as jewelry, furniture, tables and lamps. You can even buy such things at the museum shop. It’s a small attraction but uttely unmissable. The proprietor knows much about the shell collection and is a delight to talk to.

The home of this famous 16th century explorer is now the best way to delve into his life story. The man himself is most famous for discovering the pathway to North America through the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The home is maintained as it would have been during the explorer’s own times. Its artefacts speak of both his domestic life and his voyages. The tour is guided, and usually in French, and you may have to do with reading the leaflet. But if enough of the visitors request it, the guided tour will be given in excellent English.

With karts for both kids and adults, this is the best place around for high-speed chases. Speeds can go up to 110km/h. There are various tracks you may race on, and tracks can be upto 1km long. The organisation even offers packages for larger groups such as team-development options for businesses. Additionally, if there are at least 10 players in your groups, you can even play paintball.

The gardens themselves are quite beautiful, but the setting makes it breathtaking. They open around a lake, and over several terraces, drop down to the River Rance. The architecture is French, with pretty lime-tree avenues, rockeries, and botanical gardens. But its look belie the place’s history: during the French Revolution, the garden was a port and a naval yard. It only became a pleasure garden in 1840.

Though small, this beach is one of the most popular in the city, especially in the summer. It’s protected by cold winds by two things: the jetty at the south, and the fact that it faces west. The jetty-dyke itself is a historical place; it is called the Black Mole, and thewives of sailors used to wait for their husbands to return from Newfoundland here. There are restaurants and assorted rentals all along the beach. For some reason, there is also an open air seawater swimming pool right in the middle of the beach

Nearby, there are lots of pedestrian streets filled with eateries and boutiques. There is also a large parking place, though most people prefer to walk to here.