Saint-Malo began as an ancient settlement at Aleth, now part of Saint-Servan, on a strategic promontory guarding the Rance estuary. As the settlement on the rocky island grew from its medieval monastic roots, the city expanded beyond its walls onto the mainland, becoming a powerful, defensively minded maritime port shaped by corsair-era seafaring. Much of the walled city was destroyed in World War II and later rebuilt, while surrounding districts including Saint-Servan and Paramé form a broader city whose history and character extend well beyond the ramparts.