The 7 most beautiful villages near Saint-Malo by bike

Saint-Suliac is a fishing village of 950 inhabitants officially listed as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France (Most Beautiful Villages of France). Tucked into a bend of the Rance estuary, it has kept its granite lanes, sea captains' houses and a tiny harbour where boats rest on the mud at low tide.

The route from Saint-Malo crosses the Rance tidal barrage, the world's largest tidal power station (240 MW, built in 1966). After the barrage, you follow a quiet road along the right bank of the estuary with water views the whole way. The ride is flat and suitable for all fitness levels.

Saint-Briac-sur-Mer is an intimate seaside resort that inspired painters like Renoir, Signac and Emile Bernard from the late 19th century. The village has 12 beaches, a picturesque harbour and a coastal path offering spectacular views of the offshore islands.

From Saint-Malo, the route crosses the Rance barrage and follows the coast through Dinard. The final stretch traces the GR34, the famous Customs Officers' Path, with an alternation of small coves and rocky headlands. It is one of the most photogenic sections of the Emerald Coast.

Dinard is a former Victorian seaside resort sitting directly opposite Saint-Malo across the Rance estuary. The town is known for its 407 Belle Epoque villas, the Promenade du Clair de Lune along the waterfront, and the Plage de l'Ecluse framed by two Art Deco buildings.

The route crosses the Rance tidal barrage (a cycle path runs across the dam, open to bikes). From Dinard, the view back to Saint-Malo's walled city across the estuary is one of the most photographed scenes in Brittany.

Cancale is an oyster-farming port of 5,200 inhabitants famous worldwide for its flat and hollow oysters. The oyster market at the Port de la Houle lets you taste fresh oysters from just 5 euros per dozen, right in front of the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel.

The route follows the Velomaritime (EuroVelo 4) from Saint-Malo's Sillon beach. After Rotheneuf and its famous carved rocks, you pass through Saint-Coulomb before descending into Cancale. A few hills on the final stretch, but nothing difficult on an electric bike.

Dinan is a medieval town of 11,000 inhabitants perched above the Rance valley. With its 2.7 km of ramparts, 15th-century half-timbered houses and the Rue du Jerzual plunging down to the old port, it is one of the best-preserved towns in Brittany.

The Voie Verte (greenway) from Saint-Malo to Dinan follows the old towpath of the Ille-et-Rance canal. The 28 km route is completely flat, car-free and shaded for most of its length. The surface is compacted earth, suitable for city bikes and mountain bikes alike. It is the most accessible ride on this list.

Lehon is a village classified as a Petite Cite de Caractere (Small Town of Character) located 2 km south of Dinan in the Rance valley. Its Saint-Magloire Abbey, founded in the 9th century, has a remarkably preserved Gothic cloister and a reconstructed medieval garden. The village is overlooked by the ruins of a 12th-century castle.

From Dinan, a shared pedestrian and cycle path follows the Rance for 2 km. Most cyclists combine Dinan and Lehon in the same day trip. The village is peaceful, far from the crowds, and offers a striking contrast to busy Dinan.

Mont Saint-Michel is a granite islet of 900 metres in circumference topped by an 11th-century Benedictine abbey. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, it welcomes 2.5 million visitors a year. It is the most ambitious cycling destination from Saint-Malo, and by far the most memorable.

The route follows the Velomaritime through Cancale, then crosses Le Vivier-sur-Mer (mussel-farming capital) and the polders of the bay. The moment Mont Saint-Michel appears on the horizon from your bike is unforgettable. On an electric bike with a Bosch 625 Wh battery, the 55 km are perfectly doable in a day, even for occasional cyclists.