Saint-Malo was named after a Welsh monk Mac Low, who, around the 6th century., established his bishopric in Alet, a stone's throw away from the rock where the walled city now stands. As early as the 13th century, the "Malouins" were already quite successful at catching enemy ships and in 1308 they instated a sworn allegiance to Charles VI King of France, who granted it a free commune to encourage the commercial activities of craftsmen as well as merchants and ship owners.

In order to keep the inhabitants under control, the Duchy of Brittany had the main castle built, which the Malouins then took over in 1590. They later declared themselves an independant republic, which lasted fours years until King Henri IV of France agreed to become a Catholic. Jacques Cartier, on his travels from 1534 to 1542, opened the Newfoundland route and discovered Canada.

Formerly called "Saint-Malo de l'Isle", the city, clustered around the cathedral only 16 hectares wide, burnt down for the first time in 1661. In the following years, architects Vauban and Garangeau re-constructed it and extended it to 24 hectares, in 4 stages.

Unfortunately, the 1944 liberation battles devasted the town and destroyed the walled city by 80%. It is from those preserved and restored ruins that St-Malo rose again, thanks to a careful and heritage-conscious reconstruction design.

A city of granite rebuilt with is original style and skyline

Because of the fires, St-Malo has kept only 2 or 3 specimens of half-timbered construction, e.g., the inner courtyard of Chateaubriand's birth place, half-timbered houses in rue du Pélicot and the Recollets archway over rue des Vieux Remparts ; they date back to before the 1661 fire. The House of Poets and Writers, built in the early 17th century, was probably designed by naval architects and built partly with recycled ship materials.

From the late 16th century and mainly during the 2 subsequent centuries, stone was increasingly used, that of Chausey islands in particular, which significantly changed the city's aspect.

The walls and castle were spared by the destruction in 1944, however three quarters of the city had to rebuilt. Some front walls near the ramparts are under the protectionof the French Directorate of Listed Buildings.

On the 26th October 1967, Intra-Muros, Saint-Servan, Paramé and Rothéneuf were merged together to form the commune "Large Saint-Malo"

Nautism and sailboat races

Major transatlantic sailboatraces such as the "Route du Rhum" and "Transat Québec - Saint Malo"  (held every 4 years) punctuate life in Saint-Malo. It is particularly spectacular to watch as it is set on the edge of an outstanding stretch of water.