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Historic neighborhood · Saint-Malo, Bretanha
Remparts de Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo's granite walls encircle the Intra-Muros, the old town, for about 1.8 km. The elevated walkway circles around with views of the sea, the beaches and the islets.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Remparts de Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo was born on a rocky island, and the old town, the Intra-Muros, remains surrounded by walls. The remparts stretch 1,754 metres, reach up to 16 metres in height at some points and are cut by nine gates.
Construction began in the 12th century. Between 1708 and 1742, engineer Siméon Garangeau, following Vauban's guidelines, replaced the medieval towers with bastions and expanded the town. From the medieval wall remain the Grand'Porte, from the 15th century, and the section of the Petits Murs.
At the eastern tip is the Château de Saint-Malo, erected by the Dukes of Brittany from 1424, with the Grand Donjon and the Quic-en-Groigne tower, built by Anne of Brittany. Today the castle houses the town hall and is seen from the outside.
In August 1944, liberation bombings destroyed much of the Intra-Muros. The town was rebuilt in granite, with the same street layout and the same profile of roofs and chimneys. From the top of the wall you can see the beaches, Fort National, Grand Bé and, on the other side of the estuary, Dinard.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 1h to 1h30 for the full circuit of the wall, with stops.
Best time
At the end of the afternoon, when the light hits the granite facades. At high tide the sea comes close to the wall; at low tide the sand and islets appear. Check the tide table.
How to get there
Gare de Saint-Malo is about a 20-minute walk from the Porte Saint-Vincent, the main entrance to the Intra-Muros. There are city buses from the station to there.
Tip
Climb up to the wall via the Porte Saint-Vincent and walk round in the direction of the sea. On days of large tides with wind, waves can pass over the breakwaters of the Sillon, the adjacent seafront.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Remparts de Saint-Malo
Can you walk on the ramparts?
Yes. The path along the top of the remparts goes around almost the entire Intra-Muros and access is free.
Is the Intra-Muros medieval?
The layout and the walls are old, but much of the buildings were rebuilt after the 1944 bombings, in granite and in the original style.
Can you visit the castle?
The Château de Saint-Malo houses the town hall and can be seen from the outside. The history museum that used to operate in the towers was closed in 2019.