Gustave Flaubert famously described the fortified port of St-Malo, on Brittany’s northern coast, as a “stone crown over the waves”. Indeed, the view of St-Malo from the sea is incredibly impressive. It is an extremely pretty and elegant town, with its imposing, grey granite walls and charming streets and it is a wonderful place to enjoy a stroll or a few days of exploration.

The first settlement here dates back to the 6th century. Apparently, even these early settlers constructed an impressive defensive wall. But St-Malo’s most famous residents were the corsairs who, for centuries, transformed St-Malo into a famous pirates’ den. The corsairs became rich controlling the Channel and they constructed beautiful homes within the walled city.

Enjoy wandering this former pirate city, its winding streets, pretty churches and picturesque squares. The Saint Vincent Cathedral, begun in the 12^th century, is the oldest surviving church. Walking along the city walls is a must and a beautiful way to enjoy the panorama. Visitors will also want to walk along the beach and along the rocky prominitory to the fortress.

The thing that really strikes a visitor is knowing that this entire city is reconstructed, for St-Malo was virtually destroyed by bombing in World War II. Practically the entire city was slowly and painstakingly reconstructed so that this architectural gem would not be lost forever.

Needless to say, seafood is the speciality in this Breton town. Saint-Malo is close to Cancale, said to have France’s best oysters. It’s a great place to sample some Fruits de Mer.

Since we were traveling with children, we set aside time to visit the small, but excellent Saint-Malo Aquarium , just outside of town. This was an enjoyable way to wrap up our day after visiting beautiful St-Malo.

My travel tip is to spend some time in Brittany, exploring inland destinations as well as the pretty coastal towns, such as lovely Saint-Malo.

The Saint-Malo Aquarium is open daily 10:00 – 19:00.  Throughout much of July and August, the aquarium has extended hours and is open until 22:00. Tickets are 15.50 euro for adults/9.50 euro for children (children under 4 are free). Tickets can be purchased online.

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