I hadn’t before taking the ferry there from Portsmouth, England en route to famed Mont-Saint-Michel.

It was a surprise to see the old city of Saint-Malo on arrival early morning.

The walled city had a long history of piracy, earning much wealth from local extortion and overseas adventures.  …

In World War II, during fighting in late August and early September 1944, the historic walled city of Saint-Malo was almost totally destroyed by American shelling and bombing as well as British naval gunfire …

Saint-Malo was rebuilt over a 12-year period from 1948 to 1960. …

Call me impressed.