Hotel de la Mer Saint-Malo

Jacques Cartier statue

by Carmanah

This was our school photo taken in front of the statue of Jacques Cartier. It was a beautiful warm October afternoon that day. The statue was located on top of the walkway overlooking the beach and the ocean below.

As Canadian French Immersion students, it was a thrill that we were in the home town of this famous French explorer. Jacques Cartier was the first European to visit what would later become Québec. His first visit was in 1534! The land that he claimed for France in the 16th century would later become Canada's largest province and the only province in Canada where the majority speaks French.

Cathedrale St-Vincent

by sue_stone

Located in the old town, the impressive Cathedrale St-Vincent dominates the St-Malo skyline.

The cathedral was constructed between the 12th & 18th centuries. It was damaged in 1944 by bombing, but rebuilt by the early 1970's and given a nice new spire.

There is a mosaic on the floor which marks the spot that, back in 1535, Jacques Cartier was blessed before sailing forth on his voyage of discovery to Canada. His tomb (only containing his head these days) is located in a cathedral, in a chapel close to the choir.

Inside there are also some lovely stained glass windows. It is free to visit the cathedral, and we found it to be a nice quiet place for reflection when we visited.

Intra-muros

by solopes

The first time I enterd France, I selected my best french to ask someone the way to... I don't know. I do know that the first 9 people I spoke to where... Portuguese.

More than 40 years later I entered Intra-muros in Saint-Malô, wondering why "muros" and not murs?

I made some search to discover how did we get a "Portuguese" name associated with this walled area of Saint-Malô. I got no answer, but I think that it is a coincidence, and the name may have something to do not with us, but with Spanish, that write it exactly the same way.

A very nice surprise and a must see

by codrutz

I choose Saint-Malo for a night stay and therefore allocating more time and I did good because Saint-Malo is a great destination to spend more than one day.

Saint-Malo has a lot of surprises to offer, from the walls on the walls, the views to the sea, the tidal islands, the fort which had a big role in the 1944 war, to the fresh and delicious sea-food.

Saint Malo - Cite Corsaire

by Goner

"On the Emerald Coast"

St Malo was named after MacLaw, a Welsh monk and bishop who fled to Brittany in 538. The 44-acre fortified city became really famous in 1590 when its inhabitants declared their city an independent republic. Their motto was "Neither French nor Breton, but a Corsair am I". This situation did not last more than four years but local people acquired a strong reputation as warriors. In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, Malo derived prosperity from its navigators, traders and mainly privateers. Malo became a city of millionaires thanks to the trade by vessel done between the Americas and Europe and its boats called "Newfoundlanders" that fished for cod on the East Coast of Canada. But their most lucrative business was capturing merchant English or Dutch vessels with the King of France's approval.

When you wander around this medieval town and the rampart walls you can sense it's colorful history. You can imagine the ships docking and the buccaneers roaming the streets and flashing the bounty they made from their pillage of some unsuspecting ship.

You can learn more of the history of the town and of its pirates on www.ville-saint-malo.fr

"The Breatons"

St. Malo is in the province of Brittany which was a Celtic duchy for more than a thousand years before it was annexed by France in 1532. Although Brittany is in France now, it’s not French in culture, they have their own, a very distinct culture; they are part of the European Celtic fringe. Its traditions are linked to those of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Galicia in northwestern Spain. They share a common geography and climate, and their languages and customs are closely related. Today they are proud of their Celtic language and traditional dress, music, dance and fine arts.

Brittany's long history stretches back to those pre- Celtic tribes who left the megalithic monuments all over this area at some period between 2000-4000 BC. Later in Celtic times the land was full of tales of Arthurian legends and the Holy Grail. Legends, natural or supernatural are an integral part of Breton culture. Everywhere, one finds magic places, places which are often unique where the sky, the earth and the sea are in perfect harmony. Evangelical saints, fairys, korrigans, watches, giants, as well as legends about rocks, water, and dragons among others filled the Breton imagination..

"Where is St. Malo?"

The first name recorded in history for Brittany was Armorica, or "land of the sea", and aptly named for its long rugged coastline.

Saint Malo is built on a granite rock situated on this rugged coast bordering the English Channel called the Cote D'emeraude (Emerald Coast if you’re English speaking). It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the Rance River on the North coast of France close to the famous Mount-St. Michel. St. Malo is known for its castle, the cathedral of Saint Vincent and it 14th century ramparts which overlook the sea. The Intra-Muros is very compact for walking and all sides have exceptional views.