The best road cycling routes around Saint-Coulomb

The Fountain of the Oyster Washers is a bronze sculpture located in the square of the Church of Saint-Méen. It was created by the sculptor Jean Fréour and inaugurated in 1999 to commemorate the women of Cancale who washed oysters by hand in the early 20th century.

The current Église Saint-Méen in Cancale was rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style between 1885 and 1890 to serve the growing congregation. It is centrally located in the town center on Rue Jean-Marie Savatte, near the port of La Houle. The church features stained-glass windows with maritime motifs, wooden altars, and a bell tower that is still in active use. It continues to serve as a venue for worship and church events. The old Église Saint-Méen, originally built in 1302 and rebuilt in the Neoclassical style between 1715 and 1727, is located on the Impasse Saint-Méen. No longer used as a church, it houses a cinema and a museum dedicated to folk arts and traditions.

The Grand'Porte de Saint-Malo is the oldest surviving gate in the city, built in 1582. It consists of two massive round towers connected by a wall and served as the main entrance to the fortified old town (Intra-Muros) until 1708. The gate features niches containing statues of the Madonna and Child ("Notre-Dame des Miracles") and "Saint Christopher," the latter of which is associated with the legend of stopping the great fire of 1661. The Grand'Porte played an important role in defense, trade, and customs control.

The Esplanade Saint-Vincent is the central square at the main entrance to the Old Town. It is located directly in front of the historic Porte Saint-Vincent and connects the city walls to the Plage du Sillon beach. The square serves as an important meeting point for visitors and locals and is the starting point for many city tours. It houses the Tourist Information Office, a large parking garage (Q-Park Saint-Vincent), public restrooms, charging stations for electric cars, bus stops, and a taxi stand. The esplanade is barrier-free and therefore easily accessible for people with limited mobility. It is also frequently used for markets, concerts, and cultural events.

At 3 km long, this is the largest sandy beach in Saint-Malo. Walking along this beach, you can reach Intra-Muros in Paramé. Sillon Beach includes Grande Plage, Hoguette Beach, and Rochebonne Beach. La Digue was built from 1883 to 1913 on an old sandbar (the Sillon) that once connected Paramé to the walled city and provided the only dry-land access at low tide. Originally, a strip of sand was covered with dunes that grew higher and higher as one moved toward Rochebonne, with only a succession of windmills remaining. The first causeway was built in 1509, rebuilt and widened several times... Le Digue, 1,671 meters long, runs along Grande Plage and offers a pleasant stroll, lined with numerous villas built towards the end of the 19th century. Along the Sillon, a line of breakwaters protects the seawall from the force of the waves. Built in the early 19th century based on an idea by the civil engineer Robinault de St-Servan, the oak breakwaters have a depth at least equal to, or even greater than, their visible height.

Plage du Saussaye, located in Cancale, Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, is a quiet and secluded beach often praised for its natural beauty and tranquility. This sandy cove is nestled between cliffs near the Moulière Point and is considered one of the most picturesque coves in Ille-et-Vilaine. The beach's location northwest of Cancale's town center, along the GR 34 hiking trail, makes it a peaceful retreat away from the bustling crowds of the town. The beach's natural features are one of its main attractions. It boasts a pristine stretch of sand and minimal plastic debris, indicating a well-preserved environment. The coastline is rocky, and at low tide, tide pools can be seen, further enhancing the beach's charm. The surrounding greenery enhances the beach's aesthetic appeal. A unique feature of Plage du Saussaye is the presence of small ocean pools that serve as mini-ecosystems among the rocks along the sides of the beach. These pools add to the beach's appeal, but visitors should exercise caution when exploring during tides. The beach is also known for wildlife viewing, with bottlenose dolphins frequently spotted, which enhances the overall visitor experience. Access to the beach is via a steep path from the parking lot.

one of the tide mills on the Rance, worth the detour

Going back up towards St-Malo, a pretty path to the left (Rance valley) allows you to partly avoid the D117.