The castle and forts of Saint-Malo

[ys_melmoth]

Imagine a walled city surrounded by the sea. At low tide, beaches and rocks at the feet of the ramparts. At high tide, islands and waves, sometimes spectacularA medieval castle between the harbour, the main beach and the town, and two 17th century forts built by Vauban to improve the defence of the city

Comments

[opaljade]

Impressive! So glad you posted these photos.

Merci beaucoup! :D

[ys_melmoth]

De rien :-) I'm glad you like it.

[lookes]

Cool! I really want to go. I live in Plymouth, UK and just seen I can get a ferry there for £30-35 each way so it's easily doable.

[ys_melmoth]

Yep. It's not very far, and there are quite many things to do if you can stay a few days. The history museum in the castle is interesting, but you can also visit the hotel Magon - a beautiful privateer town house - and the Etoile du Roy, if you're interested in boats. The National fort is opened to visitors from april to september, and not far from here is also the Solidor Tower, in which you'll find an extension of the castle's museum. Don't forget to eat a few crepes on the rampart at the "Corps de Garde", and have a drink in this awesome place :-)

(No, I assure you, I'm not paid by Saint-Malo's tourist office ^^)

[thoughtsbykat]

Wow, that's huge. Thanks for sharing.

[ys_melmoth]

You're welcome :)

[gilda_elise]

What a lovely place! Even old ships in the harbor. But what are the sticks in the sand for?

[kizzikat]

Posts like that in the sand are often to break the force of the waves against a vulnerable piece of coast. Lines of them out into the water (often with planks between them) are to stop the beach getting washed away.

The lines of posts under the walls are to stop ships mooring against the walls.

[ys_melmoth]

Yep. Here, it's especially to protect the causeway from the waves during spring tides, when the sea can be quite... intrusive.

[kizzikat]

It's that pesky Atlantic Ocean - a bit fearsome!

[kizzikat]

Excellent photos, thanks! Love the one with the ship's masts.