Saint-Malo in Brittany, France

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High tide at the walled city

Saint-Malo was founded more than 2,000 years ago and has a colourful history. Built on the Brittany coast of the English Channel, the walled city became an important port for ships coming into and out of western Europe. And because of its strategic location, Saint-Malo was, for a time, a favourite spot for pirates. As ships made their way through the Channel, pirates lurking off the Saint-Malo coast could pounce easily while French authorities looked the other way. Now it's a tourist spot where visitors can walk down the city's historic streets.