In the footsteps of Vauban in Saint-Malo

Park at the far end of the marina, at the western jetty of Saint-Malo harbour, where there are more parking spaces available.

(S/E) Take the steps at the foot of the hill to reach the esplanade of the fort built by Vauban, which now houses the 1939–45 War Memorial. Here you can see the imposing defences built by the Germans: three anti-aircraft batteries and six machine-gun nests positioned along the parapet walk.

(1) Leave the plateau by crossing the campsite and follow Allée Gaston Buy to Place Saint-Pierre and the remains of the first Roman Catholic cathedral built in the^20th century.
Via Rue d'Alet, head to Cale Saint-Pierre and the Solidor Tower with its museum dedicated to the Cape Horners.

(2) Turn right to walk the full length of Solidor Beach, return to the junction and continue straight ahead to take Quai Solidor. Pass the junction with Rue de Bizieux.

(3) Continue straight ahead along Quai Solidor until you reach the gendarmerie complex.

(4) Within the gendarmerie grounds, there is an access point leading to the hangar at the end of the buildings, which houses the Ar Zénith boat and its slipway. Listed as a historic monument, this is the boat in which the men of Île de Sein joined General de Gaulle following his appeal on 18 June 1940.
Retrace your steps to reach the Porte Des Corbières.

(5) Turn right to reach the park entrance and the path that circles the wooded area. Benches allow you to enjoy the woodland. Reach the end of the park and enjoy beautiful views of the Rance and the neighbouring coves.
Return to the Porte des Corbières via the same route.

(5) Turn right onto Rue de la Fontaine, then Rue Jean XXIII, where you can see the^17th-century Church of Sainte Croix, with its square tower made of blue granite, topped by a bulbous dome. Continue until you reach a Malounière.
Head back along Rue Jean XXIII and return to the Porte des Corbières junction.

(5) Turn right again onto Quai Solidor until you reach the junction with Rue Bizeux.

(3) Turn right here, then left onto Rue Ernest Lamort. Continue to the Digue des Bas Sablons.

(6) Walk up Plage des Sablons, turning right onto Digue des Sablons, passing at the foot of the Tour Blanche, a lighthouse and landmark for sailors. At the far end of the beach, you will reach a flight of steps.

(7) Take the stairs to the right and head towards the Rond Point du Naye. Take care here: heavy traffic. Continue towards the city centre, following the ramparts along Chaussée Éric-Tabarly.

(8) Cross the drawbridges over the Bassin Vauban, Quai Saint-Louis and Quai Saint-Vincent to reach Porte Saint-Thomas and Place Chateaubriand.

(9) Walk to the left of the Château Ducal, which houses Saint-Malo Town Hall and the City Museum. Go through the postern gate on the right and head down the ramp to Plage de l'Éventail, then make your way towards Fort National.
Please note that this fort is only accessible at low tide.

(10) Follow roughly the same route along the beach to return to Place Chateaubriand.

(9) Continue along the same route as on the way there to reach the junction with Chaussée Éric Tabarly.

(8) Turn right to go round Fort de Naye and reach the Digue des Bas Sablons, then the junction with the steps you passed earlier.

(7) Walk along the Sablons beach again to reach the junction at the Digue des Sablons.

(6) Turn right onto the Terre Plein Sud. Leave it on the left to take the footpath, passing behind the buildings of the Chantier Naval de Plaisance to return to the marina car park (S/E).

Please check the tide times in advance.

To visit:
(1) Fort Vauban in the Cité d'Alet. It was heavily reinforced by the Germans between 1941 and 1943, making it the largest defensive structure of the Atlantic Wall, comprising: 3 anti-aircraft batteries (flak) and 6 machine-gun bunkers (each turret weighing 45 tonnes, which were dismantled from the Siegfried Line and transported from Germany to Alet). More than 3,000 workers from the Organisation Todt poured 100,000 tonnes of reinforced concrete.
American troops had to launch three assaults following heavy bombardment from sea, land and air to secure the surrender of the command post.
(10) Fort National is only open to the public when the French flag is flying from its flagpole.
The Île du Grand Bé, adjacent to Fort National, is accessible at low tide and can be visited at the same time as Fort National. It is home to Chateaubriand’s grave.