Relief
The Emerald Coast has many characteristic landscapes. It has its maritime facade with Cancale, Saint-Malo, Dinard, Saint-Lunaire, Saint-Briac-sur-Mer, Lancieux, Saint-Jacut-de-la-mer, Saint-Cast-Le-Guildo and Fréhel and also its land face with Dol, Combourg, Rives de la Rance, Dinan and Matignon. One can appreciate the varied landscapes of the countryside between hedgerows, moors, forests and marshes.
Rivers and valleys are also present on the territory. 102.2 kilometers long, the Rance is a coastal river between Ille-et-Vilaine and Côtes-d'Armor. You will enjoy the banks of the river Rance canalised from the old port of Dinan to the Châtelier lock, those of the maritime Rance up to the Rance tidal power plant, and then its estuary up to the Channel. You will also cross the landscapes of the coastal rivers, of the Arguenon which flows into Créhen near Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer, and of the Frémur flowing between Lancieux and Saint-Briac-sur-Mer.
The plateaus are found in wide bands of schist or granite. On the coast and in the center, the altitude varies from 50 meters on the coast to less than 100 meters. Note that the Dol mountain culminates at 65 meters.
The Mesnil forest, with its 600 hectares, is the only one in the region (former property of the privateer Surcouf). It is located in the communes of Tronchet and Tressé. You can also see the "house of the fairies": one of the best preserved megalithic monuments in Brittany. You can see the pond of Mireloup at the edge of the wood.
In the region of Dol-de-Bretagne, you will find the marshes of Dol which extend to the Mont-Saint-Michel.
The coastline
The bay of Mont Saint-Michel, which opens the ball, is a magical place. 240 m² of foreshore to which are added 170 km² of marshes, 30 km² of polders and 4 000 hectares of grassland where the famous salt meadow lambs graze. It is a strong and powerful place, where the tide reaches up to 16 meters of amplitude and rises at the speed of a galloping horse.
After Saint-Malo and its string of stone forts perched on rocky islets as well as Dinard and its listed villas, Cape Fréhel already points its finger of sandstone, shale and red porphyry on the horizon.
The Caps d'Erquy and Fréhel have been labeled Grand Sites de France in 2019, recognizing their rich landscape, natural, cultural, geological, ornithological, geological as well as local history, economic activity, especially related to the fishing of the scallop, and tourism.
The coastline of the Emerald Coast stretches for about forty kilometers between Cancale and Fréhel. The land is bathed in the English Channel. At the end of the summer, the bathing water shyly exceeds 20°C. There are very beautiful fine sandy beaches: along the bay of Mont Saint-Michel, in Cancale, Saint-Malo, Dinard, Saint-Lunaire, Saint-Briac, Lancieux, Saint-Cast and up to Fréhel. Several islets line the sea from Mont Saint-Michel to Fréhel and can be observed from the coast. Petit Bé, Grand Bé, Colombier island... Off the coast of Saint-Malo, the island of Cézembre recognizable by its two plateaus and its clear cut between the two extends over 18 hectares. The island has undergone intense bombing during the Second World War that have profoundly changed its nature and its relief. A trail was built there in 2018 but the island is still partially closed to the public. Note also the existence of the Ebihens archipelago off Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer, accessible on foot at low tide.
The port of Saint-Malo, bastion of privateers, is the most important of the Emerald Coast and the3rd Breton port for goods. For a long time, the city of Saint-Malo was a port of stranding, but it was equipped with locks in the 1930s. Ferries transit here from the Channel Islands as well as trawlers and cargo ships. Pleasure boats cohabit with replicas of old frigates. On the coast, there are a multitude of marinas and slipways for launching and sailing. Remarkable: the small fishing port of Cancale, famous for its oysters.
Climate
The Emerald Coast enjoys a rather privileged oceanic climate within Brittany.
The average temperatures are mild in winter and summer. In winter, the maximum temperatures are between 4 and 12 °C, and between 12 and 25 °C in summer.
Ille-et-Vilaine has 1,850 hours of sunshine per year, which is significantly higher than the regional average.
Precipitation in Ille-et-Vilaine is less than 700 mm per year, which makes it a less rainy department than the average of the other Breton departments.
The coastline is particularly windy and exposed to storms. They are sometimes impressive, especially in winter and when they are combined with high tides. The show is then at the rendezvous, provided to remain carefully at a good distance from the piers and cliffs.
As far as natural phenomena are concerned, the tides can be very violent. Saint-Malo is known for its high tides, the most spectacular in Europe. Here again, remember that you should keep your distance from the waves and not take any risks.
Agriculture
The agricultural landscapes between the Pointe du Grouin and Saint-Malo are characterised by market gardening or horticulture, while the west of the region is dominated by cereal crops and livestock. The Clos Poulet in the Pays de Saint-Malo concentrates most of the vegetable farms in the area: cauliflower (flagship product of the basin), various cabbages, potatoes, leeks, carrots, etc. Most of the market gardeners are members of the "Terres de Saint-Malo" group of vegetable producers. The utilised agricultural area of the communes covers a little less than 50,000 hectares.
Environment and energy
The Rance tidal power plant is a power station located on the Rance estuary, between the towns of Saint-Malo and La Richardais, and draws its energy from the force of the tide. With a capacity of 240 MW, it remained the largest tidal power plant in the world for 45 years, from its commissioning in 1966 until August 2011.
