The old city is still surrounded by its high granite walls which kept away the invaders in the past, and is still a good protection against the assaults of the sea nowadays.
Fishing, commercial, passenger and military harbor, St Malo was the starting point for many seafarers who explored the New World since the 16th C : the most famous is Jacques Cartier, a native, who is one of the discoverers of Canada.
Other adventurers took part of the renown and the wealth of the walled-city : the privateers ! Duguay-Trouin, Surcouf are famous all over France. They were pirates who were accepted by the king (as far as they only attacked the ships of the English and Dutch enemies) ! Their exploits are repeated generation after generation on the docks of St Malo.
Transformed into a German fortress during World War II, when France was occupied, the city was bombarded by the Allies, before being liberated by American Forces in august 1944. The city was in ruins (except the walls) but was beautifully restored after the war.

The visit : walk along the city wall to watch the show of the sea which colors varies according to the sun from deep blue to emerald green, with many small scattered rocks and islands.
Inside the walls, granite streets and homes, the Manor of “la Houssaye”, the castle, the cathedral where Jacques Cartier was buried, many stores, crêperies or sea-food restaurants.