The City of the Sea

At the origin, Saint Malo was a rock beaten by winds and the sea. This remained true until a monk landed on this part of the Brittany. This monk was called Mac Low (or Maclou). His name was given to the rock when his relics were brought back to the Rance country - present-day Saint Malo country - in the VIth century.

At this time, the city of Saint Malo was already animated by the presence of a community of people. This social organization led to the creation of a diocese in the XIth century which gave Saint Malo a role as religious capital. The Bishopric of Saint Malo is one of the seven founding pillars of the Breton faith.

The first rampart was built in the XIth century. Elected Bishop in 1144, it was Jean de Châtillon who really gave the rank of city to what at that time was just a monastic enclosure. He extended the rights of asylum of the cathedral to the entire town. Thus the rapid arrival of a population made up of maily renegades, hooligans, marginals or outlaws - so it is said - who later joined together under the common slogan: "Neither Breton, nor French, but from Saint Malo!".

They turned Saint Malo into a dynamic city, since they formed a populace mainly linked to the work of sailors, merchants and craftmen. In 1308, the people of Saint Malo created a free commune, which did not last long.

Saint Malo became then a free port from 1395 to 1688. In the XVIth century, coastal trade was a flourishing form of navigation. The port expanded and saw the birth of the rich "bourgeoisie" of ship owners and traders.

In the first half of the XVIth century, the port opened to the New World and the town became a great merchant center. From 1534 to 1542, Jacques Cartier, originating from Saint Malo, made three voyages and discovered Canada by landing in Quebec.

Fishing was also at the heart of the economy of Saint Malo. Until the beginning of the XXth century, the "Newfoundland fishers" were looking for cod in the icy waters of Labrador. Since the eighties, the men from Saint Malo no longer fish for cod off Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, because of the disagreement between France and Canada over fishing zones and quotas.

In the XVIIth century, Saint Malo became famous with its 'privateers' (or corsairs) like Robert Surcouf. Although the pirate and the privateer were both adventurers travelling the seas to pilage ships, the first one was outside the law, while the latter was not, since he was authorized by the king.

In the XVIIIth century, Saint Malo was a great port, trading both with West Indies and Latin America, as well as with the East Indies and the Indian Ocean. In these times, the well-known architect Vauban reinforced the ramparts.

The XIXth century was greatly marked by a huge effort to reorganize the port and to create docks.

In 1944, 90% of the intra-muros town was destroyed by the Allies, as the Germans had entrenched themselves in the city. The reconstruction started in 1947 and the ancient style of the town was preserved.

Today, Saint Malo remains a port, but its touristic vocation is increasing with the ferry traffic to and from Great Britain and the Channel Islands. Saint Malo is also reputated for its transatlantic races (Quebec-Saint Malo and Rum Route).

Written by Nicolas Malo (February 2001)

Source: 'Saint Malo', by Edouard Maret, Editions Ouest France.

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