By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises

This little place has a story of its own, as well as a firm hold on pieces of European, North American, and South American history.

Jacques Cartier was born in Saint-Malo in 1491, and sailed up what is now the Saint Lawrence River in Canada to the eventual sites of Quebec City and Montreal in 1534 and on two later voyages.

We arrived late yesterday afternoon under glorious blue skies. This morning , though, the fog was there to greet us and stayed most of the day.

But we had the time to stroll the ramparts of the old city and the fog helped reinforce the feeling of history, especially the connection between this place and New France. Much of Saint-Malo looks and feels like Quebec City on the other side of the pond, which makes complete sense.

All photos by Corey Sandler, 2018. All rights reserved.

Also from Saint Malo were the first colonists to settle the Falkland Islands off of Argentine.

French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville founded the islands’ first settlement in 1764, naming them after the port of Saint-Malo which had been the point of departure for his ships.

And so the French called the islands, “Les Îles Malouines.”

The name “Falkland” was applied to the channel between the two main islands by John Strong, captain of an English expedition which landed on the islands in 1690.  Strong named the strait in honor of the financier of his voyage, Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount of Falkland, the Treasurer of the Navy.

The British stay with the name Falklands. The Argentinians use their version of Îles Malouines, in Spanish, “Islas Malvinas.”

The Cathedral at Saint-Malo, and the sepulchre of Jacques Cartier. All photos by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.

About 45 minutes away is the beautifully-preserved walled town of Dinan, mostly undamaged by war and time.

The medieval town on the hilltop has many fine old buildings, some of which date from the 13th century. The town retains a large section of the city walls, part of which can be walked.

The Romanesque 12th-century Basilica Saint Sauveur, which contains a crypt with the heart of Bertrand de Guesclin, a locally-revered, 14th-century knight.

Dinan. All photos by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.

One of the iconic sights of the world is Le Mont-Saint-Michel, an island commune in Normandy, about an hour’s drive from Saint-Malo.

Mont-Saint-Michel, less than a kilometer or half a mile off the coast, cut off from the mainland by high tide (although a modern causeway sits just above the water level.)

The town of Mont-Saint-Michel embodies feudal society: on top, God and the abbey and monastery. Below, the great halls of the nobility. And at the bottom, outside the walls: homes for fishermen and farmers.

Today, though, it is open to assault by tourists.

All photos and text Copyright 2018 by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.

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By Corey Sandler

This little piece of Brittany has a story of its own as well as a firm hold on pieces of European, North American, and South American history.

It’s all about location: offshore islands at the mouth of an important river.

Before the arrival of the Romans, a promontory fort had been erected at Aleth, south of the Saint-Servan district, commanding the approaches to the Rance River.

A monastic settlement founded by Saint Aaron and Saint Brendan in the early sixth century included a follower of Brendan, Saint Malo or Maclou.

The settlement has a long history of setting itself apart.

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Walking through the cobblestone streets of Saint-Malo feels like time travel, little changed from the 1500s, when the explorer Jacques Cartier set out from here for the New World.

But, in full disclosure, almost everything you see has been rebuilt from the rubble of World War II.

This beautiful little place, a fortified town on what was once an island, was a German holdout after the Normandy landings to the north. Allied forces wanted to open up additional ports to bring ashore men and supplies, and Saint-Malo was one of the places chosen.

In late August and early September 1944, the historic walled city of Saint-Malo was almost totally destroyed by American shelling and bombing as well as British naval gunfire.

We anchored offshore today under gray skies and drizzle, which was displeasing to some but seemed very appropriate for the ancient (rebuilt) fortifications and cobbled streets.

I went through the walls into the Cathedral, lovingly reconstructed after World War II. To the right side of the altar, I paid a visit to the tomb of Jacques Cartier.

SAINT-MALO May 29, 2017

And outside the cathedral, a shop displayed a map of Saint-Malo and some modern furnishings, with the store windows reflecting the old city.

All photos by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.

On previous visits,  I went about an hour inland in Brittany to the beautiful,  mostly untouched Medieval town of Dinan on the Rance River.

We inspected the half-timbered shops and the simply elegant Saint-Saveur church.  I also made a visit to the Chateau of Dunan.

A DINAN ALBUM

Text and images copyright 2017 by Corey Sandler. All rights reserved. If you would like to purchase a high-resolution image, please contact me.

By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises

This little piece of Brittany has a story of its own as well as a firm hold on pieces of European, North American, and South American history.

It’s all about location: offshore islands at the mouth of an important river.

Before the arrival of the Romans, a promontory fort had been erected at Aleth, south of the Saint-Servan district, commanding the approaches to the Rance River.

A monastic settlement founded by Saint Aaron and Saint Brendan in the early sixth century included a follower of Brendan, Saint Malo or Maclou.

The settlement has a long history of setting itself apart.

Walking through the cobblestone streets of Saint-Malo feels like time travel, little changed from the 1500s, when the explorer Jacques Cartier set out from here for the New World.

But, in full disclosure, almost everything you see has been rebuilt from the rubble of World War II.

This beautiful little place, a fortified town on what was once an island, was a German holdout after the Normandy landings to the north. Allied forces wanted to open up additional ports to bring ashore men and supplies, and Saint-Malo was one of the places chosen.

In late August and early September 1944, the historic walled city of Saint-Malo was almost totally destroyed by American shelling and bombing as well as British naval gunfire.

On this visit,  I went with guests about an hour inland in Brittany to the beautiful,  mostly untouched Medieval town of Dinan on the Rance River.

We inspected the half-timbered shops and the simply elegant Saint-Saveur church.  I also made a visit to the Chateau of Dunan.

A DINAN ALBUM

Text and images copyright 2015 by Corey Sandler. All rights reserved. If you would like to purchase a high-resolution image, please contact me.