St Malo & Dinard
St Malo
Saint-Malo is a historic, fortified port city located in Brittany, northwestern France, along the stunning coast of the English Channel. Famously known as the “Cité Corsaire” (Corsair City), it was once a wealthy stronghold for state-sanctioned pirates (privateers) and maritime explorers like Jacques Cartier. Today, it is one of Brittany’s most visited destinations, celebrated for its dramatic tides, sandy beaches, and medieval charm.
Essential Highlights
Intra-Muros (The Old Town)
A maze of granite cobblestone streets packed with bustling crêperies, boutiques, and historic merchant houses. Though 75% of it was destroyed during World War II, it was meticulously rebuilt stone-by-stone.
Les Remparts
The massive stone ramparts encircle the old town. Walking along them offers panoramic views of the Emerald Coast and the surrounding ocean forts.
Tidal Islands
Fort National
A 1689 fortress designed by Vauban that can only be reached on foot across the sand during low tide.
Grand Bé
Another tidal island that houses the tomb of the famous French romantic writer François-René de Chateaubriand.
The Beaches & Tides
Home to some of the highest tides in Europe. When the tide rolls back, vast sandy beaches appear; when it returns, waves crash dramatically against the city walls. Trains (TGV) directly from Paris in about 2 hours and 20 minutes, or a 55-minute regional train ride from Rennes. It is also a major ferry port connecting France to the UK and the Channel Islands.
Dinard
Dinard is a prestigious seaside resort commune located on the Côte d’Émeraude (Emerald Coast) in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of Brittany, northwestern France. Renowned for its spectacular Belle Époque architecture, fine sandy beaches, and mild climate, it rose to fame during the 19th century as a premier summer playground for British and American aristocrats.
Key Highlights & Attractions
Belle Époque Architecture
The cliffs of Dinard are lined with over 400 listed and protected 19th-century coastal villas. Among the most famous is the Villa Les Roches Brunes, an architectural emblem perched over the sea.
The Promenade du Clair de Lune
This scenic 2 km coastal walkway winds from Prieuré Beach to the Bec-de-la-Vallée cove. It is famously lined with lush Mediterranean gardens (featuring palm trees and mimosas) and offers stunning vistas across the estuary toward Saint-Malo. In the summer, it comes alive with nighttime light and music shows.
Plage de l’Écluse
The town’s main sandy beach is instantly recognizable by its classic blue-and-white striped beach tents. It sits directly in front of the town’s majestic hotels and the upscale Casino Barrière Dinard.
Other notable beaches include the family-friendly Plage du Prieuré and the authentic Plage de Saint-Énogat.
British Film Festival
Reflecting its historical ties to English holidaymakers, Dinard hosts the annual Dinard British & Irish Film Festival every autumn, drawing international celebrities to the coast. A bronze statue of director Alfred Hitchcock overlooks the sea to commemorate the town’s cinema footprint.
Vibrant Local Markets
Traditional regional flavours come alive at the Dinard Street Market held at Place Crolard (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday), as well as a daily covered food market at the Halles de la Concorde. It is the perfect place to sample a galette-saucisse (local sausage wrapped in a buckwheat crepe).
Rance Barrage
Dinard is also the site of the World’s first tidal power station built in 1966.
Getting There
Dinard sits directly across the mouth of the Rance River from the historic walled city of Saint-Malo. You can easily travel between the two cities via a scenic 10-minute sea bus ferry operated by regional companies like Compagnie Corsaire.
