Username:
Password:
	Register

St Malo

St Malo is a beautiful walled city, dominated by its ancient citadel, located in the heart of the Atlantic Arc. There are dozens of great shops, bars and restaurants inside the old city walls, not to mention superb sandy beaches nearby. There is also a huge supermarket located just outside the city.

Port Guide

Saint Malo is an historic port which continues to be very busy. The port includes three marina areas with 2,000 berths, a commercial port handling the import of granite, wood, fertilizers, salt, animal feed and paper amongst other cargoes and a fishing port which, together with neighbouring Cancale, lands some 4,000 tonnes of fish a year. There are two modern ferry terminals, one specifically designed for fast craft. In addition to Brittany Ferries' operations a seasonal service is operated by Condor Ferries to Poole via Jersey and/or Guernsey. In total more than a million passengers a year pass through St. Malo making one one of the leading French ports. St Malo is now host to numerous cruise ship visits throughout the year.

If you fancy a leisurely start to your trip, then head to the town centre after disembarking and watch a sleepy city turn into a vibrant one.

Tourist Attractions

The heart of Saint Malo is the old walled town known as Intra-Muros (within the walls) which was extensively and faithfully reconstructed after the devastation of World War II. There are walkways along the ramparts which offer views of the port and the sea, and the streets are fascinating to explore, with street names including ones which translate as Dancing Cat and Fat Calf. Saint Vincents cathedral was built over 7 centuries (the 11th to the 18th) but was only finally completed when the spire was fitted - in 1987! The cathedral actually played a part in Saint Malo's history as the "Corsair City" as in the 12th century Bishop Jean de Chatillon extended the cathedral's sanctuary rights to include the whole town. Other places to visit include the large modern aquarium on the southern outskirts of the town.

Turning to the surrounding area there is the different, but equally worthy of a visit, resort town of Dinard, which faces St. Malo across the mouth of the Rance. Amongst other events Dinard has an annual English Film Festival. The road linking the two towns passes along the top of a tidal barrage which is a major electricity generator helped by the large tidal range of this part of the coast. Further up the Rance is the attractive little town of Dinan to which boats trips run, passing through the lock in the barrage. It is definitely another place well worth visiting.

Just over 40km from St.Malo is Le Mont Saint Michel, with its abbey standing atop of a rocky island. Well, it was an island but is at present joined to the mainland by a causeway, however it is planned to cut this and make the Mont an island again. For those who don't know it you can judge how popular it is from the fact that it is the most visited place in France outside of Paris, and France is the world's most visited country. Not to be missed if you are in the area.

Accommodation

St Malo offers a wide range of hotel accommodation and bfenthusiasts have a selection of hotels in which we have stayed and can recommended:

Hotel Central -  As its name suggests this hotel is located in the heart of the old city in St Malo. Part of the Best Western hotel group this hotel is both formal and informal with friendly service, magnificent rooms and an award winning restaurant. Just a few minutes away from the ferry port, a short walk from the sea front this hotel is perfect for exploring the city.

Hotel du Louvre -  Also located within the walls of intra-muros this hotel is in a prime location. Restaurants shops, and tourist attractions are all on this hotel's door step. There are 50 modern en-suite rooms available, each equipped with LCD televisions and free internet access.

Restaurants

There is a restaurant on every corner of St Malo catering for all tastes. bfenthusiasts recommended the following establishments:

Cafe De L'Ouest - is one of our favourite stops for breakfast after arriving from Portsmouth - though admittedly we have noticed prices are starting to increase.

Transport

By Car: The N137 south from Saint Malo offers an excellent route south to Rennes and Nantes, with routes south from there, including the rapidly extending auto route, to the Charentes, Bordeaux and the Dordogne.

By Train: A local line connects to the main line at Rennes, from where there are TGV's to Paris. There is also a direct TGV between St. Malo and the French capital, although there are more connections available via Rennes.

By Bus: Regular local services are available, with timetables at the terminal.

By Sea: Condor Ferries operate a regular high speed service to the Channel Islands.