Leaving the vast, lively esplanade bordering the General Tower, we head towards the monumental entrance to the corsair city: the Porte Saint-Vincent. Standing at the heart of the ramparts, it seems to open a passage between two worlds: that of the modern city and the one straight out of a maritime adventure novel, the inner city of Saint-Malo.

The gate, built in 1709 to replace an older entrance, owes its name to its proximity to the old Saint-Vincent chapel, destroyed during the Revolution. Flanked by two powerful, massive towers, it impresses with its martial appearance; it's easy to imagine the corsairs crossing this same opening to join their ships, setting out to challenge enemy fleets or bring back their prizes.

A delightful little anecdote: just above the vault, you can still see the sculpted coats of arms of the governors of Saint-Malo, carefully hammered during the Revolution. Ironically, these erasures, intended to remove the monarchical symbols, ended up attracting the attention of the curious... and telling, in their own way, the tumult of Saint-Malo's past.

Passing through this gate is truly like entering a setting from another time: gleaming cobblestones, tall granite facades, and the scent of sea spray and adventure still lingering over the stones.