Grande Plage du Sillon (Saint-Malo)

The Grande Plage du Sillon is the longest sandy beach in Saint-Malo, Brittany, running from the walled city (Intra-Muros) to Paramé along a seawall of about 1,671 metres. It suits families in summer, wind-sports fans at low tide and anyone who wants to watch waves break over the wall at the big spring tides. Its three named sections are the Grande Plage, the Hoguette and Rochebonne.

From a 1509 causeway to the present seawall

The Sillon follows a former sand spit that once tied Paramé to the rock on which the walled city stands. The first causeway across it was built in 1509 and was rebuilt and widened several times afterwards. The present seawall went up on the old spit between 1883 and 1913, and a row of seaside villas, most of them from the late 19th century, still faces the sea along it. The promenade on top is a favourite walk for residents in every season.

Oak posts that break the waves

Rows of oak posts stand in front of the wall, installed in the early 19th century on a proposal by the engineer Robinault de Saint-Servan. At least as much of each trunk is buried in the sand as stands above it, and the posts break the force of the waves before they reach the masonry. Between November 2021 and early 2022, about 1,000 worn posts were removed and 600 new ones driven in, using knotty oak from the Laval forest. The State paid the full €1.7 million cost, since the failing posts were letting the sea attack the wall's joints.

Low-tide walks to the Fort National and Grand Bé

Saint-Malo has one of the largest tidal ranges in Europe. At low water the sand stretches far out and suits kite flying, sand yachting and windsurfing, and you can walk to the Fort National and the Grand Bé, both tidal. At high tide the sea reaches the wall, and on strong spring tides waves break over it onto the promenade; watch from a safe distance.