Emerald Coast
Emerald blue water
The Emerald Coast is situated in the northeast of Brittany, west of the mont Saint-Michel, around Dinard and St Malo. I guess the name comes from the colour of the water there…
Aerial photos
Here are a few aerial photos I took thanks to a friend (hello Manu…), at low tide:
The first shows that the walled city used to be an island linked to the shore by a long sand dune, the Sillon (the beach in the foreground, which you can see at night below). The water behind the dune has been used to create a harbour.
The second features the two "Bés", islands just off the walls, which you can reach on foot at low tide.
The last photo of St Malo, shot on the opposite site compared to the first, shows the Solidor tower standing watch.
Up the Rance towards Dinan, the tide draws weird figures, around the foundations of a viking camp.
St Malo by day
The walled city seen from the Grand Bé at low tide.
Seen from the city walls, the two Bés at high tide, under a cloudy or blue sky.
The Fort National is another island off the walls on which a defense fort was built.
In the harbour, old wooden ships meet freighters. Behind the harbour beacon, across the Rance, lies the city of Dinard.
On a Christmas day, Rochebonne beach welcomes passers-by in the rain, with the walled city of Saint Malo in the background and a wrought iron railing in the foreground. A clearing in the clouds lights the sand up.
St Malo by night
Seen from the Rochebonne beach, the skyline of St Malo is all lit, and the Sillon beach is a line of streetlights leading towards the walled city.
At night, the harbour retains some of its activity, unloading trade ships, sheltering ferries and old sailboats under the walls.
Renard
In the last 10 years, the coasts of France have turned to their past to save or recreate their old ships. St Malo, proud of its corsair past, has rebuilt "Le Renard", one of Robert Surcouf’s ships.
Here are photos of its sails against a blue sky, showing the complexity of its masts and ropes.
Cutty Sark race
In 1999, the Cutty Sark race gathered very beautiful ships in St Malo, I took a night shot of the harbour with all the big ships lit.
Here’s the bow of one of the biggest ships, and a sunset with the city as background.
Most of the ships are made of wood, the decks are perfect and gleaming, and all the ropes and pulleys are neatly arranged.
The wooden figureheads are very beautiful too.
Dinard
Across the Rance, Dinard is a beach resort with casinos and beautiful villas.
Cape Fréhel
West of Saint-Malo is Cape Fréhel, and very close by, Fort La Latte, a fourteenth century castle. From its keep, you get a view on the courts, and on Cape Fréhel. Its walls are towering above the blue-green water.