Emerald Coast — Saint-Malo, corsairs, malouinières

Your adventure begins in Saint-Malo, at Porte Saint-Vincent, at the foot of the ramparts that protected the privateer city from the 12th to the 18th centuries. These fortifications, rebuilt after the British bombardment of September 3, 1944, by a fleet of 116 ships, stretch for 1.8 kilometers. They bear witness to Saint-Malo's resilience, whose motto is "Fluctuat nec mergitur" – It floats and does not sink. As you walk the battlements, imagine the British attack of 1758, repelled by the fort's cannons. This thematic circuit in Brittany immediately plunges you into the history of Saint-Malo.

On the Bastion de la Hollande, a strategic point on the ramparts, you discover the statue of Robert Surcouf (1773-1827). This Malouin privateer, commander of the ship La Revanche, represents the peak of the Malouin privateering tradition in the 18th century. His expeditions, carried out with royal letters of marque, attacked many enemy merchant ships. In peacetime, Surcouf converted to shipowner and merchant, accumulating great wealth. His story embodies the bravery and ingenuity of the Malouin privateers, a pillar of Breton maritime heritage.

The island of Grand Bé, accessible only at low tide, is the burial place of François-René de Chateaubriand (1768-1848). This Breton writer, diplomat, and politician wished to be buried in a simple granite vault, without inscription, just 300 meters from the Saint-Malo coast. Chateaubriand, who grew up in Saint-Malo, maintained a deep connection with Brittany and the sea. This site has become a place of literary pilgrimage, offering a unique perspective on the lives of personalities linked to the Emerald Coast of Brittany.

In Saint-Servan, you explore the Cité d'Aleth, the ancient Roman name for Saint-Malo, fortified since antiquity. The Fort de la Cité, built between the 16th and 17th centuries, defended the port against attacks. The Memorial, dedicated to Malouin sailors and privateers as well as victims of maritime wars, highlights the continuity of Malouin maritime presence from Roman times to the privateer heyday. The Cité d'Aleth, administratively merged with Saint-Malo in 1967, is an essential testimony to the history of Saint-Malo.

Your roadtrip then takes you to Cancale, about 15 kilometers east of Saint-Malo. The Port de la Houle has been an oyster farming center since the 17th century, with 1,200 hectares of oyster beds producing 10,000 tons annually. Cancale was also a secondary privateer outfitting port. 3 kilometers away, the Pointe du Grouin offers a panorama of the Chausey Islands and the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, a strategic observation point for maritime traffic. Here, you measure the economic and strategic importance of the region for the Malouin privateers.