THE SURROUNDING AREA OF ST MALO
St Malo
A trip to St Malo is a must for any visitor to Brittany. This settlement whose modern name is taken from a British Monk "Malo" who came to convert the region to Christianity in the 6th century A.D. is today a thriving channel port town. There are several docks in St Malo covering commercial, pleasure and ferry traffic.
The town has a somewhat dubious history having been an important base for pirates and also for the slave trade.
A walk around the ramparts which encircle the old town give excellent views of the town itself and the surrounding sea and countryside. St Malo offers many attractions such as the museum the castle and the aquarium.. There are also many boat trips from St Malo to the Channel Islands which although under British jurisdiction are much closer to France than England.
Dinan
Dinan is the ancient seat of the Dukes of Brittany and is represented on the Bayer Tapestry as a fortress town. The town is protected by the highest wall in this area and stands 75 metres above the River Rance.
A walk through Dinan is a voyage of architectural and historical discovery. Both the 12th century Basilica of Sauver and the 15th century Church of St Malo have been updated and restored continuously since their construction and therefore have a mix of architectural features reflecting the styles of architecture at the time of each restoration. Similarly the castle is in various architectural styles, the construction being started in the 13th century and continuing until the end of the 15th century. The castle houses a museum of the history of Dinan from its earliest existence to modern times.
The port of Dinan is situated at the foot of the viaduct spanning the Rance Valley and boat trips are available along the River Rance. The local tourist office proposes a number of themed tours and the Mayor's Office have lists of exhibitions and festivals.
Mont St Michel
Mont St Michel is situated on an island connected to the mainland by a dyke. The island is a granite rock about 300 meters in diameter. Technically Mont St Michel is in Normandie not Brittany as the River Cousenon was diverted and now enters the sea to the west of the island and as the river marks the boundary between Brittany and Normandy this now places the island in Normandie. The bay in which the island is situated is heavily silted and at low tide the island is surrounded by sand banks which are continually changing. The tide in this area can vary as much as 12 meters between high and low and comes over the flat sea bed at the speed of a brisk walk. Visitors are warned of the risk of being overtaken by the tide if walking on the sand flats when the tide is coming in. The town is well preserved and the narrow winding streets have changed little over the centuries.
The dominant structure on the island is the Abbey constructed between the 11th and 16th centuries. Well organised tours in different languages are available in order to guide you through the maze of corridors and rooms which make up the Abbey.
Rennes
The magnificent town of Rennes which dates back to the second century B.C. is now the regional capital of Brittany.
The town itself offers a diverse range of attractions for the visitor. These include a wide range of architectural styles, art galleries, museums,the cathedral, remnants of the ancient fortifications and of course excellent shopping facilities. Thoughout the year there is an important schedule of concerts, opera, ballet and theatre at very reasonable prices
The visitor of course is free to discover the town at his own pace but a useful introduction to the town can be to take one of the themed guided tours proposed by the tourist office which are available all year round.
Rennes has a vibrant young feel to it due to its large student population; Rennes has two universities and a medical school along with numerous specialized schools. The nightlife tends to be in the cafés and bars which frequently offer entertainment in the form of traditional Breton music
In the countryside around Rennes the visitor can take time out to appreciate the calm and beauty of the surroundings. The Rennes Forest, which is a State forest offers walks of incredible beauty and is well organized with rest points and picnic areas.
Vitre
Vitre lies 35km east of Rennes its castle, ramparts and narrow winding streets make it probably the best preserved medieval town in Brittany. The castle is on the original 11th century site although it was extensively rebuilt and fortified in the 13th and 15th centuries. The Silverware Tower (Tour de l'Argenterie) houses a museum displaying works of art, archeology, ethnographic and natural history exhibits.
The Church of Our Lady (l'Eglise de Notre Dame) built in the 15th century is an excellent example of flamboyant Gothic Architecture and has some superb Renaissance stained glass windows. The local tourist office offers guided tours of the town and castle and in the summer months you can take a night tour of the town.
