ST. MALO, BRITTANY, FRANCE

St. Malo is in Brittany on the northern coast of France, heavily fortified by the tall granite walls which surround it. Walking around them, we marveled at their construction and saw the harbor, the surrounding islands, and the birds who dwell there. The walls are about 20-25 feet wide!! and extend for a mile and a half circuit. They were built in the 12th century, reinforced/rebuilt in the 17th century and are still standing despite fierce bombing in WWII. The Allied bombs destroyed most of the city and much of the cathedral (except for the pulpit!) but the ramparts stood firm.
The cathedral is dark and the photos don't do it justice, because it is a beautiful and unusual and moving place. The choir is many feet beyond and below the high altar. That altar is starkly modern and anchored by heavy bronze carvings of the Gospellers (angel, lion, ox, eagle). Bill is standing by an early (12th C) baptismal font; the prior photo is of a 17th C double font, the small basin for the water, the larger one for the candidate.
Finally, we went shopping for exquisite treats from Brittany and then stopped for a lunch of crepes.