Saint-Malo

Saint-Malo

On the trail of an eternally authentic city

At its heart, St. Malo is a fortress city and home to some great men. Anyone overlooking this truth will probably never fully grasp the spirit of St. Malo, so wonderfully captured by that great maritime writer, Roger Vercel. From a primitive rock to a modern city, centuries of history have shaped the global reputation of this port and privateers' haven, where chapters from an epic past blend together. It is essential to familiarise yourself with St. Malo's men as well as its sights. To that end, we urge you to look up Aaron, Mac Low and Jean de Chatillon before going off in search of Surcouf, Duguay-Trouin, Mahé de la Bourdonnais, Maupertuis, Broussais, Jacques Cartier and Chateaubriand. Through their feats both at sea and on land they all left the city with an eternal legacy - that of the Republic of St. Malo. For let us not forget - the city assumed all powers as a sovereign state between 1590 and 1594 after its citizens rose up and stormed the castle.

Find out all about St. Malo from its origins to its rise as a seaside resort and make the most of your stay with the tourist information provided in this book.