Plage de Bonsecours, Sandy beach with seawater pool in Saint-Malo, France.

Bonsecours is a sandy beach in Saint-Malo that runs along the city ramparts and features a seawater pool with a diving platform. It offers open views toward the bay and the islands beyond the coastline.

A seawater pool was built in 1937 by beach manager René Lesaunier to provide swimmers with a safe option during periods of strong tidal movement. This addition became a lasting feature for those seeking stable bathing conditions.

At low tide you can walk across the sand to Grand Bé, where Chateaubriand was buried in 1848 facing the sea; his tomb is a simple granite slab marked with a cross. Petit Bé, reached the same way, holds a fort built by Vauban in the 1680s. Bathers time their crossings to the falling tide.

The beach is reached from the walled city by the ramparts path or the steps down from the Bon Secours area. The seawater pool sits at the foot of the ramparts, so bathers should check the tide before entering, as the pool fills with the rising water. Showers are available on site, and the sand slopes gently toward the water.

The seawater pool refills itself twice daily with the tides, creating a natural cycle of water circulation. This tidal exchange means the pool maintains clean water without artificial filtration systems.