- Admission
- Paid guided visits
- Check current prices
- Hours
- Open for guided visits in season at low tide only; check the fort's own published schedule...
- Where
- Saint-Malo, Brittany
- Directions
- Directions
Fort National stands on a rocky islet just off the Plage de l'Éventail, a short distance from the walled city of Saint-Malo. It was built from 1689 to plans by Vauban, Louis XIV's great military engineer, with the work carried out by the engineer Siméon Garangeau. Its purpose was to defend the port against attacks by the English and Dutch fleets, and together with other forts on the islands of the bay it formed a ring of defences around Saint-Malo.
The fort can only be reached on foot at low tide, by walking across the sand from the beach below the ramparts. When the sea comes in it is cut off again, so checking the tide times before setting out is essential. In season the fort opens for guided visits at low tide, and a flag is raised when it is open. The tour presents the fort's ramparts, its interior and its history, which continued well beyond the age of Vauban.
Even when the fort is closed, walking out to its rocks at low tide is a popular outing, with fine views back to the walls of Saint-Malo and across the bay. The fort is privately owned, and opening days, times and prices are published by its operators each season. Combine the walk with a stroll along the ramparts or the Plage du Sillon, and keep an eye on the incoming tide.
Categories
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Hours & Fees
- Open
- Open for guided visits in season at low tide only; check the fort's own published schedule and the tide tables.
- Admission
- Paid guided visits; check current prices.
Hours and prices change, especially out of season. Check with the venue before you go.
Nearby Attractions
Other places to visit in Saint-Malo
Cathédrale Saint-Vincent de Saint-Malo
The rebuilt cathedral at the heart of the walled city
Free Churches · Historic Towns
Grand Aquarium Saint-Malo
Marine life from Breton waters to tropical seas
Museums & Culture · Nature & Parks
Grand Bé
Tidal islet with the tomb of Chateaubriand
Free Coastal & Maritime · Heritage Trails
Plage du Sillon
Saint-Malo's long sandy beach with its famous wooden breakwaters
Free Beaches · Coastal Promenades
Questions people ask
Quick Facts
Best Time to Visit
June to September for beaches and long evenings on the ramparts; spring and autumn equinox tides are the most spectacular, and the walled city is calmer outside the summer holidays.