Bastion de la Reine

Bastion de la Reine is a granite gun platform set into the north wall of Saint-Malo's walled town, as part of the Remparts de Saint-Malo. From this viewpoint you're facing northeast at Fort National, sitting on its own rock a few hundred metres offshore. The view here changes depending on the tides. At low tide the sand opens right up from the Plage de l'Éventail to the fort, and you can add people crossing it to your frame for a sense of scale. High tide cuts the fort off from the mainland completely and leaves it sitting all alone in the open sea. Make sure to check a tide table before setting out and pick the one that matches your shooting style. You can also shoot facing along the rampart walls, using them as leading lines toward the Tour Bidouane with the town's slate roofs behind it. Since this viewpoint faces north both the sunrise and sunset land over the water in summer, making both times of day quite photogenic. The ramparts walk is free, with stairs up near the Porte Saint-Thomas. The Fort National itself charges admission and only opens around low tide, so shooting from the tidal island would have to be planned as a separate outing. (Saint-Malo, Brittany, France)