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Brittany Destination Guide - Cotes d'ArmorView rental properties in Cotes d'ArmorThe Cotes d’Armor, meaning ‘land of the sea’, certainly lives up to its name. It comprises the majority of Brittany’s highly attractive Northern coastline, including a number of islands. The historic towns of Dinan, Dinard and St Malo combined with great beaches, coastal walks and beautiful rivers make the Cotes d'Armor a particularly desirable department. Land of the Sea The Cotes d’Armor, meaning ‘land of the sea’, certainly lives up to its name. It comprises the majority of Brittany’s highly attractive Northern coastline, including a number of islands. Among the rocky cliffs that look out towards England are some great beaches. The department boasts 15,000 acres of Forest, while the land nearer the coast is used mainly for the farming of vegetables. Where to go Dinan and Treguier are both very popular tourist towns, which are so steeped in history that you could think you're back in the Middle Ages. Only the presence of cars shatters the illusion. If you’ve had enough of these modern day contraptions then head to the Ile de Brehat, an island where cars are completely banned. Ferries leave every hour. Another popular location for peaceful family holidays is the Pink Granite Coast. Here, you’ll find a great place to relax with a backdrop of huge pink boulders, which make for some curious holiday snaps. Up and down the coast there are a number of pretty little fishing villages and ports with fabulous views out across the sea. Step back in time Dinan, situated along the banks of the River Rance, is a quaint town with a staggering amount of history. It has retained its 600 year old ramparts and castle walls. There are few museums, yet this is more than made up for by the fascinating architecture that lines the town’s streets. Every two years, the town hosts a colourful festival to celebrate its medieval history so check the dates before you plan your trip.
Towns of Cotes D’ArmorSaint-Brieuc – and its bay. Saint-Brieuc, the capital of the Département of Côtes-d’Armor, is on the north coast of Brittany, west of St Malo. It lies between the Gouët River and the Gouëdic River, close to Saint-Brieuc Bay. It is a busy market town that was named after St. Briocus, a 5th century Welsh monk who was active in the area. Worth visiting is the Cathédral de Saint-Étienne, originally built over 200 years from the 13th to 15th centuries, but rebuilt later. The old town features picturesque architecture, including 15th/16th century half timbered and corbelled houses. Vantage points on the boulevards bordering the ravines give views of activities at the fishing port, Le Léguéth. There are museums, pleasant parks, a weekly market, fairs and other events. The area around offers interesting walks and, of course, beaches.
Paimpol- home to Icelanders. The “Icelanders” were the fisherman of Paimpol who sailed to Iceland to fish for cod. This small town by the north coast with it's busy fishing port and yachting harbour is well placed for visiting the nearby lovely small beaches of Brehec, the seashores of Pors Pinand, and the whole 13 km of wild coast. Around the fishing port are narrow, winding streets, lined with old timbered houses. Activities include tennis and a lido, scuba diving, kayak, lessons at a sailing school, and sailing. For walkers there is footpath GR34, with its outstanding panoramas on the footpath. The Tuesday market is known for it's oysters and fish. Plouha – panoramic views. The highest cliffs in Brittany are here, a Maritime history museum, and Bonaparte Beach, from which Allied airmen shot down in Brittany were evacuated during WW2. The area offers fine beaches, and cliff-top paths with panoramic views. Gwin Zégal nearby is one of the last anchorages in Europe where the boats tie up to wooden posts. Ploubazlanec – take the ferry. Ploubazlanec is about 3 km north of Paimpol; from here the ferry takes visitors to the famous Iles de Bréhat. Boat trips from Plubazlanec and other nearby locations offer Breton music or sea-fishing, or tours around the islands and archipelago. Saint-Quay Portrieux - entertaining night and day. This seaside resort and fishing port is the landing port for Coquilles St Jacques (scallops). There is an annual scallop festival, and fish auctions. Beaches, casino, cliff-top paths, views, lighthouse. Nearby, to the north, is the beautiful beach of Le Palus Plage. The latter changes colour with the tides and becomes almost black, due to the black ilmenite crystals in the sand. Some of the best beaches in Côtes d'Armor are in this area, such as Chatelet, Casino and Countess beach. Trégastel - small seaside resort on the Pink Granite Coast. Aquarium Marin De Tregastel, open from April to September, is located here. Places to visit in the area: Ploumanach, Trérbeurden, Perros-Guidec, Pleumeur Bodou (home of the biggest Planetarium in Europe, and the Museum of Telecommunications). Tréguier – welcome to the rias. Treguier is a sleepy little town beside a sea inlet of the type known as ria, whose banks are ideal for ramblers and hikes. An attractive town 16 kms east of Lannion on the Jaudy river, with a harbour. The cathedral, St Tugdual, houses the tomb of St Yves who was a lawyer and priest (died about 1303). At Minihy-Treguier are a chapel and stature dedicated to the saint, and an annual 'pardon' that is apparently attended by lawyers in particular. The town was also the birthplace of Ernest Renan, writer and philosopher. Pontrieux - for boating enthusiasts. This pleasant small town lies half way between Lannion and St Brieuc, north of Guingamp, on the Trieux river. Rail from Paris via Guingamp, nearest airports Lannion or St Brieuc. There is a marina, with a pub on a schooner. Ideal for boating enthusiasts, lovely countryside around, and not far from the sea. Guingamp – The City of charm. Guingamp lies inland south west of St Brieuc on route E50 (which leads to Morlaix). This is an attractive town with cobbled streets and tall granite houses with plenty of cultural activity, night-life and bars. The old town has some medieval walls remaining with narrow streets of shops inside, and part of a 15th century castle remains. Winding through the town is the River Trieux. There are two festivals - 'Gouel ar Bugale Vreizh' takes place in July, with a candle lit night procession and bonfires, and a traditional dance festival performed by children. In August the Fête de la Saint Loup brings a week of Breton music and dance to the town. Small towns/villages in the area include Bourbric and Plouagat. 
Le Faoue - great for hikers too. The village of Le Faouët lies in the beautiful wooded valley of the River Elle, between Callac and Belle-Isle-en Terre. It is famed for it's 16thC timber-framed market hall with a beautiful bell-tower. The river, with it's wild tumbles of rocks, has signposted walks, and is good for fishing. The town has a large supermarket, a lot of restaurants. 40 minutes drive to the coast from here.Quintin and Corlay – home of the horse museum. Lie just off route D790, which runs from St Brieuc in the north, inland down to Rostrenen, near Morbihan in the south of Cotes d'Armor. It is not far to Lac de Guerledan with its beaches, water sports, safe swimming, creperies, and fishing. Also in the area is the Abbey Bon Repos which has a Son et Lumière in August. Local performers re-enact the factual and legendary history of the area from Roman invasion to Revolution. The Abbey is set in a beautiful location, with weirs, salmon stairs, a former water mill, mediaeval stone bridge over the river, plus a restaurant and a fossil shop. Corlay is a village of about 1000 inhabitants, with shops and other facilities. Interesting attractions here are a horse museum, a Romano-Gallic site, and a ruined castle. Trébeurden – pretty seaside town. Seaside town not far from Lannion, with rocks and sand beaches, small harbour, plenty of restaurants and creperies plus shops. Perros-Guirec and Plumanac'h – The Trendy Resort. These are on the coast, and have fine beaches as well as the pink granite rock formations of the Granit Rose coast. Behind the cliffs is low-lying heathland, and at Perros-Guirec there is a sixty hectare ( 150 acres) area of protected natural landscape managed by the town. Lannion - A marriage of old and new. Lannion is the second main town of Cotes d'Armor, and has both airport and railway station. It is situated on the inner end of the estuary of the River Leguer, which meets the sea on the Cote de Granit Rose. The old town features narrow streets running down to the river, lined with picturesque restored mediaeval houses. The Thursday market is one of the best in the region, and there is a daily fish market in the Halle aux Poissons in Place du Miroir, every morning Tuesday to Saturday. North west of Lannion towards the coast is the Planétarium de Bretagne. St-Nicolas-du-Pélem - town with a pool. A quiet town with shops and restaurants, surrounded by rolling countryside. It has amenities such as shops, banks and restaurants, and an outdoor heated swimming pool. Not far away is the beautiful Lac Guerlédan in Morbihan, with it's water sports, sandy beaches and eateries. Nearby are villages such as Kerigochen. Mael-Carhaix - village with a lake. This village lies to the south west of St Nicolas-du-Pelem; it has post office, bank, tabac, shops, a leisure lake, and scenic countryside around. Not to be confused with Carhaix-Plouguer, which is not far away to the west in Finistere. Gouarec – nice little village. East of Rostrenen along route N164 is Gouarec, on the Nante-Brest canal, surrounded by lovely countryside. In the village itself are some good restaurants and bars, shops, bakers, an indoor swimming pool, and other amenities. Local attractions include the ruined abbey of Bon Repos, idyllic routes for walking or cycling, and pre-historic sites of megalithic tombs. This is where to find the local organic farmers' market on Sunday mornings. This is a good place for road access to the Nantes-Brest Canal; five buses per day call here on the Carhaix - Loudeac route. 
Quintin in the Vallee de Perche – mediaeval town. South-east of St Brieuc About 1 hour's drive from Rennes. By rail, from St Brieuc . An interesting and attractive small mediaeval town that was a centre of linen weaving in the 18th century. Attractions include the Château (13th C, rebuilt later) with it's collections and exhibitions, the Notre-Dame de Deliverance Basilica and the the Workshop Museum of the Fabric of Quintin. There are several annual festivals. The Quintin Lake offers fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and the Gouet stream for walks. There are 13 monuments in the area.Rostrenen – unspoilt Brittany. Situated in the south west of Cotes d'Armor, south of Guingamp, Rostrenen is known as the crossroads of Brittany - being central, the area offers easy access to all three Brittany coasts. Central Brittany is one of the most beautiful and unspoilt areas of France. Flowing through it is is the Nantes-Brest canal, with a tow path for country walks or cycle rides. An old railway line is now a cycle path, leading to Gouarec and Carhaix through deep countryside and woods. Rivers and lakes add to the attraction of the area. The Nantes-Brest canal loops to the south of Rostrenen, then up to Gourac. Villages in the locale include Gouarec, St Nicolas-du-Pélem, Glomel, Mellionec. Glomel - with its man made beach. A village west and a little south of Rostrenen features a single menhir in in it's centre (Le Korong Menhir). Here you can go rock climbing, and pony trekking. Nearby is Lac du Korong. Canoeing, windsurfing and pedalo hire are available on the lake and there is also a man-made beach and children's play area. It is also an excellent coarse fishing lake, and nearby is a trout. During the summer there is a childrens club where the children can learn to windsurf, canoe and abseil. Loudéac – full of surprises. Directly south of St Brieuc, in the far south of Cotes d'Amor, is the mediaeval town of Loudéac. All the usual town shops and facilities, plus Aquatides 700 m2 of pool with Giant waterslides and a swirly 'river'. Pools for younger children as well. Loudéac is close to forest and river. Brehat – the colourful island. Your first thought on landing on the island is that you are in a Mediterranean garden – flowers, cacti, pines and palm trees surround sunny terraces. Brehat has a sheltered cove, which benefits micro climate. If you want to walk around this lovely island climb the hill at Goareva and far out at sea, what appears to be a huge snake sliding into the water is the Sillon de Talbert, a geological formation of pebbles that roll against each other and cause the massive structure of the peninsula to move, Cars are not allowed on the island.
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