The Ramparts

The ramparts of Saint-Malo form a complete circuit around the old walled city, walkable in about an hour, with spectacular views of the bay in every direction. The walls date from the 12th century but were substantially rebuilt and reinforced in the 17th century under Vauban, Louis XIV's great military engineer. They still stand to their full height, with the original bastions and watchtowers intact.

Walking the walls is the first thing most visitors do, and rightly so. The seaward side looks out over the beach, the tidal islands of Grand Bé and Petit Bé, and the open Atlantic. The landward side shows the compact streets of the Intra-Muros and, beyond them, the modern city. The highest point is the Tour Bidouane in the northwest corner. There is no charge to walk the walls, and they can be accessed from several points around the circuit.

things to do sight
A story
Saint-Malo's ramparts did not actually protect the city from its greatest destruction. In August 1944, American forces trying to clear out a German garrison shelled and bombed the Intra-Muros for nearly two weeks. When the Germans finally surrendered, eighty percent of the old city was rubble. The rebuilt city, finished by 1960, is built in granite so faithful to the original that most visitors never realize it is largely post-war.