Saint-Vincent Cathedral

Here you are in front of the Saint Vincent Cathedral, built during the 12th century. Before that the episcopal seat was located in the nearby city of Alet, home to the ancient cathedral of Saint-Jean. However as the island of Saint-Malo seemed impregnable and much easier to defend, Jean de Châtillon, who was considered the city’s second saint founder, decided to transfer his bishopric there and had a new cathedral built in the heart of Saint-Malo.This was not without major consequences! By transfering his episcopal seat from Alet to Saint Malo, he radically transformed the life of St Malo, which saw the arrival of many convents, markets, and artisans with that of the cathedral. It was built on the foundations of an older site, dating back to the 7th century. From this Romanesque building, only a few parts remain, including the Nave. What you see today is the result of several constructions and expansions, spanning centuries followed by post-World War II restorations. If you go to visit it, you will encounter a magnificent rose window designed in the 1960s with the idea of restoring the cathedral to its appearance, prior to its destruction, by the English in 1695. You will also see a mosaic marking the kneeling of Jacques Cartier, right before his departure to Canada. Though the diocese of Saint-Malo no longer exists, its cathedral is an essential part of the Malouin heritage, and is classified as Historical monument since 1910.