Sillon Beach, Saint-Malo: beach in Brittany

In Saint-Malo, the Sillon stretches nearly 3 km of sand between Intra-Muros and Paramé, with a historic sea wall, breakwaters, lifeguarded swimming, restaurants, a shower, drinking water, a kids’ club and two Hippocampe beach wheelchairs in summer.

Suggested time: 3 hours to a full day
Type of place: Saint-Malo’s great iconic beach, lifeguarded, sporty and wheelchair accessible
Atmosphere: Iconic, sporty, urban and spectacular
Getting there: Chaussée du Sillon, 35400 Saint-Malo. Many access points from Intra-Muros, Courtoisville, La Hoguette, Rochebonne and Paramé.

Who this place suits

With family: 10/10
As a couple: 10/10
With friends: 10/10
Solo: 10/10
With a dog: 4/10
Reduced mobility: 10/10

These scores are calculated from what the page records: official rating, facilities, difficulty, duration and location. They are a guide, not a substitute for contacting the venue, especially about accessibility.

About

The Sillon is Saint-Malo’s great iconic beach. About three kilometres long, it includes the Grande Plage, La Hoguette and Rochebonne, and links Intra-Muros to Paramé. Its 1,671 metre sea wall, built between 1883 and 1913, is lined with seaside villas and protected by the famous oak breakwaters. The beach is lifeguarded in summer: the City of Saint-Malo states that the Sillon lifeguard station is staffed every day from 12.30 pm to 7 pm during the summer season. Two Hippocampe beach wheelchairs are available in July and August. The beach has a shower, drinking water, toilets, bars, restaurants and a kids’ club. The Sillon is also very popular for wind sports: kite flying, sand yachting and windsurfing. Animals are not allowed from April to September. Spring tides and wave overtopping can transform the beach completely, making the sea wall spectacular but dangerous.

What you will see

A 1,671 m sea wall, built from 1883 to 1913.
Oak breakwaters, installed to protect the sea wall.
Many seaside villas from the late 19th century.
Breakwaters, sea wall and the ramparts of Saint-Malo: the signature view.

Practical information

Getting there: Chaussée du Sillon, 35400 Saint-Malo. Many access points from Intra-Muros, Courtoisville, La Hoguette, Rochebonne and Paramé
Services: Bar, restaurant, toilets, showers, drinking water, beach club, first aid post
Parking: Seafront and Intra-Muros car parks nearby, full in summer. Adapted access and beach wheelchairs available in season.
Pets: Animals are not allowed from April to September
Accessibility: Adapted access and beach wheelchairs in summer, with more equipment at La Hoguette.
Lifeguarded swimming: In summer, 12.30 pm to 7 pm while the lifeguard station is open
With family: Very suitable in the lifeguarded areas
Tides: An exceptional influence; at low tide, a huge foreshore with the water very far out; at high tide, the sea reaches the foot of the sea wall at high coefficients
Length: About 3 km
Activities: Swimming, sand yachting, kite flying, windsurfing, walking, running, photography
Safety: Do not stay on the sea wall when waves are overtopping, swim in the lifeguarded areas, watch children on the huge foreshore, respect the sand yachting and windsurfing areas, do not climb on the slippery breakwaters
Best time: With family, while lifeguards are on duty and outside the biggest tides; in a wheelchair, while the lifeguard station is open; for photos, spring tides only, from a safe spot; for walking, low tide or the sea wall in calm conditions
Photography: The sea wall facing the breakwaters, Rochebonne, the end towards Intra-Muros; best light at sunrise or late in the day
Ideal for: Grande Plage, La Hoguette, Rochebonne, swimming, wheelchair users, walking, sand yachting, kite flying, photography
Nearby: Intra-Muros, Rochebonne

Tips on the spot

Check the tide times and coefficient before any visit to the Sillon, including the risk of wave overtopping.
At spring tides, keep well away from waves breaking over the sea wall, and never stand against the parapet to film them.
With a family, choose a lifeguarded area, and set a meeting point with the children on such a big beach.
Two Hippocampe beach wheelchairs are available in summer; for reduced mobility, choose the access closest to the lifeguard station.
At low tide, the water can be very far out.

Show 8 more tips

Do not climb on wet breakwaters.
Respect the sand yachting areas, windsurfers and other water sports.
The sea wall is ideal for a walk even if you are not swimming; sunrise is excellent for a run.
Restaurants and toilets make a full day easy.
In winter, storms are a show to watch only from a distance.
A walk to Intra-Muros is the natural way to extend the outing.
Before you go, check the exact dates when lifeguards are on duty.
For a quiet time, come in the morning.

Frequently asked questions

Why come to Sillon Beach?

It is Saint-Malo’s iconic beach, spectacular at spring tides and ideal for combining swimming, a long walk on the sea wall, wind sports, seaside heritage and views of Intra-Muros.

What kind of beach is it?

Saint-Malo’s great iconic beach, lifeguarded, sporty and wheelchair accessible.

What is the atmosphere like?

Iconic, sporty, urban and spectacular.

How much time should I allow?

3 hours to a full day.

How do I get to the beach?

Chaussée du Sillon, 35400 Saint-Malo. There are many access points from Intra-Muros, Courtoisville, La Hoguette, Rochebonne and Paramé.

Is swimming lifeguarded?

Yes, in summer, from 12.30 pm to 7 pm while the lifeguard station is open.

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Photographs: Pierre André Leclercq · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Dudva · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · Kev22 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · GFreihalter · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons