Grand Bé

Grand Bé is a small tidal islet just off the walled city of Saint-Malo, reached on foot across the sand from the Plage de Bon-Secours at low tide. It is famous as the burial place of François-René de Chateaubriand, the Romantic writer and statesman who was born in Saint-Malo in 1768. He chose this spot himself, wishing to rest facing the sea, and after his death in 1848 he was buried here beneath a plain granite slab topped by a cross, without any name.

The walk out takes only a few minutes across the sand and a paved causeway, and the islet itself is small enough to explore in a short time. Paths lead to the tomb and around the grassy top, where traces of old fortifications and wartime bunkers remain. The views are superb: the ramparts of Saint-Malo on one side, the Dinard shore and the mouth of the Rance on the other, and the neighbouring islet of Petit Bé with its small Vauban-era fort.

The crossing is only possible around low tide, and the sea covers the causeway quickly when it returns, so it is essential to check the tide times shown on signs at the start of the crossing. Visitors who are caught out may have to wait several hours for the next low tide. Entry is free, and early morning or evening visits are the most peaceful.