Saint Malo - Sant-Malou

The walled city had a long history of piracy. Inside the walls of St Malo there are a range of tourist shops and restaurants. A walk around the walls of St Malo's old town takes about an hour. St Malo has long sandy beaches. Boats can be taken from Saint Malo to Jersey and Guernsey. There was an ancient town on the site of St Malo that was founded by Gauls in the 1st century BC. It was known as the Roman Reginca or Aletum. During the decline of the Western Roman Empire, Armorica (modern-day Brittany) rebelled from Roman rule under the Bagaudae. The modern Saint-Malo can trace its origins to a monastic settlement. It was said to have been founded by the Welsh Saint Aaron and and Irish Saint Brendan early in the sixth century. Its name is said to be derived from a man who was a follower of Saint Brendan, Saint Malo or Maclou, who came from Wales.

Image: St Malo, painted c.1900 by Emil Krause (1871-1945)

Links: Brittany Tourism and Saint Malo Tourisme