Paris1972-Versailles2003

Moving about in my road warrior mode I have come north to this wonderful historical City of Saint Malo.  A nice town and one of our favorites on a long list! This is the Ille et Vilaine dept 35 of my lovely Bretagne region ,and my belle France,.Do see my many posts on the City, I have found me an odd picture in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and me, Therefore, here is my take on the Grand Bé island of Saint Malo !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I

The  Grand-Bé is an uninhabited island located at the foot of the ramparts of Saint-Malo. You will access it at low tide only. So check the tide times before you venture out on the island! At low tide, a 25-minute walk will be enough to reach the top of the island with a superb panorama of the Emerald Coast. From the plage Bon-Secours beach, Grand-Bé is known to travelers and literature enthusiasts, for being Chateaubriand’s last home. The name of island has several possible etymologies, the most common would be the Grand Bey, coming from Celtic and meaning tomb or Bé, in Breton.

Since March 2011, during the big tides, the “bell ringer” warns tourists from the rising tide using a fog horn, to prevent them from not been trapped, The chapel of Notre-Dame -Des-Lauriers of the second half of the 14C, today ruined, was later called the Saint-Ouen chapel dedicated to the cult of the Holy Dwynwen or Santez Twina Ar Mor in Breton. It was towards her that the religious procession took place where the popular festival of Saint Malo of the Holy Ouine originates,

A bit of history I like tell us that during WWII, the nazis took possession of the island and they decided to set up a coastal artillery battery in order to protect the bay of Saint-Malo, by making one of the elements of the Saint-Malo Festung or fortress. An important point of support was then built there;it included bunkers for the four 105 mm guns, a shooting steering station, bunkers for close defense, anti -aircraft cannons, shelters for staff, ammunition and numerous trenches. An anti -aircraft projector was also installed in the immediate vicinity of the tomb of Chateaubriand. The point of support was taken care of by the 2nd battery of the Marine Artillery Battalion 608. After the capture of the Saint-Malo castle and the bastion of Holland on August 14, 1944, the intramural was in hands of the Americans. There were only 3 fortified positions left under nazis control: the cité d’Aleth, the island of Cézembre and the Grand Bé. On August 16, 1944, the Americans decided to attack the Grand Bé and asked the person responsible for the port of information about the tides. Around 13h (1 p.m.), despite a rising tide, the attack was led by the G company of the 3rd battalion of the 329th infantry regiment, which took the position by an assault on the grenade under the cover of smoke bombs. The nazis resistance was sporadic and the garrison felled shortly after the attack.

Now a historical anecdote and the reason the island is famous, On February 11, 1847, Céleste died, and Chateaubriand wrote: “I owe a tender and eternal gratitude to my wife, whose attachment was as touching as it was deep and sincere. She made my life more serious, more noble, more honorable, always inspiring me with respect, if not always the force of homework”. Chateaubriand died in Paris on July 4, 1848 at 120 rue du Bac. His remains are transported to Saint-Malo and deposited facing the sea, according to his wishes, on the rock of Grand Bé, an islet in the harbor of his native town of Saint-Mal.

The Saint Malo tourist office on Grand Bé : https://www.saint-malo-tourisme.co.uk/offers/ilot-du-grand-be-saint-malo-en-3646235/

The City of Saint Malo on Grand Bé : https://www.saint-malo.fr/actualites/acces-grand-be-vigilance/

There you go folks, a lovely setting indeed , and gorgeous views from the ramparts of Saint Malo. The sand is soft nice great walk on sands reminds me always of my growing up years. A beautiful setting for the history and architecture amateur in me. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Grand Bé island of Saint Malo as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!