Fort National

The Fort can be reached at low tide from Saint-Malo’s ‘grand plage’ (main beach), opposite the castle. Worth a visit in its own right, the Fort also accommodates a museum that recounts the military events connected with the building, as explained by a guide. Children can browse through a free educational booklet on the topic. The Fort was built in 1689 on an island not far from the town ramparts, by the engineer Siméon Garangeau, following plans drawn up by Vauban. Once a royal fortress, it went on to become part of the Saint-Malo bay area’s circular defensive fortifications, which stretched from Fort La Latte to La Varde point. In 1817, the fort was the setting for a memorable duel between the French corsair Robert Surcouf and 12 Prussian officers, while in August 1944, 380 locals were locked up by the Germans, without food, for six days.

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