La Mer

©©Thibault Poriel - Cancale|©Thibault Poriel

The sea spray that does you good!

Saint-Malo Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel is surrounded by a sea that is rough in winter and gentle in summer. The English Channel, in Breton Mor Breizh, is the arm of the Atlantic Ocean that you will contemplate along the customs path.

Fancy a trip out to sea?

Take advantage of your holidays to treat yourself to a seaside getaway!

There’s nothing more exhilarating than a trip on the big blue. But you’ll surely be surprised by the colour of the water with its emerald green reflections…

Discovering the Bay of Saint-Malo by sea is an adventure. Let yourself be tempted by an outing on traditional sailboat on the privateer cutter le Renard or l’Étoile du Roy! You don’t need to know how to sail, the crews will introduce you to sailing while helping with the manoeuvres.

Various ship companies offer excursions to the Chausey Islands, off the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel. A walk to Cap Fréhel is an opportunity to admire the spectacular cliffs that tower 70 metres above the sea.

©©alamoureux Activité Optimist Bis Cancale (3)|alexandre lamoureux

Beaches and sea bathing

When you say seaside holidays, you say sea bathing!

Beaches are vast stretches of fine sand and havens of peace along a jagged coastline dotted with little coves. You’re bound to find one that suits you and that you won’t want to leave behind!

One dip in the sea a day keeps the doctor away forever!

Eager to find out more about the best sandy beach spots?

In Saint-Malo, the three-kilometre long Plage du Sillon or Sillon beach stretches from the Intra-Muros town to the Pointe de Rochebonne. From the Pointe de la Varde in Saint-Malo to the Pointe du Grouin in Cancale, the environments and beaches offer places to relax and unwind. These beautiful sites are biodiversity hotspots, home to birds, butterflies, fish and more. They are protected at European, national and Breton level, so it’s up to all of us to preserve and protect them by doing the right thing.

The Havre du Lupin cove, located between Saint-Malo and Saint-Coulomb, was once the haunt of privateers and smugglers. It is mainly used for fishing on foot, as it is completely uncovered at low tide. Find out all you can about the fishing techniques so that this pleasure can be enjoyed for generations to come.

At Saint-Coulomb, right in the middle of the Emerald Coast, you’ll love the Chevrets beach. This large sandy beach with crystal-clear waters is bordered by dunes. It offers beautiful views over the Channel and the Chausey islands. The more picturesque Les Dunes du Port beach has a small natural harbour with a few boats at anchor. Bathing in the cove is almost a privilege!

The beaches of Cancale overlook the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. They are sheltered from the prevailing winds. The Verger beach backs onto the dune ridge, behind which is a small lagoon. The beach at Port-Mer, a family beach par excellence, is the perfect place to go for a sea walk.

The beaches of our Destination

High tides

grandes-marees---saint-malo-remi-lemenicier-3811-1200px.jpg — ©©Rémi Lemenicier - Grandes marées - Saint-Malo|©Rémi Lemenicier, Lemenicier Rémi

grandes-marees---le-sillon---parame---saint-malo-remi-lemenicier-3826-1200px.jpg — ©©Rémi Lemenicier - Grandes marées - Saint-Malo - IMG_8215|©Rémi Lemenicier

grandes-marees---saint-malo-remi-lemenicier-3813-1200px.jpg — ©Grandes marées de Saint-Malo|Lemenicier Rémi

Who hasn’t heard of Saint-Malo’s high tides?

More than just a spectacle, the tides punctuate the daily lives of the people of Saint-Malo. Here, the sea offers you a different landscape every moment, swept back and forth twice a day by the tide.

When the moon is full or new, the attraction is at its peak. Tidal coefficients generally exceed 100. Fishermen and oyster-farmers bustle about between ebb and flood, always bearing in mind the time of the tide.

Every six months, close to each equinox (March-April and September-October), the tides are even stronger. These are the famous equinox tides so eagerly awaited by fishermen on foot, as the sea withdraws particularly far. But they are also greatly feared by people living near the seaside, as there is a frequent risk of flooding at high tide.