When in France’s Brittany, visit the Côtes-d’Armor region, a natural haven interspersed with rustic villages exuding a convivial atmosphere. Travel along refreshing coastal walks, tour medieval towers and take part in the culture for which the region is well known.
Inland at the Valley of the Saints, notice the giant stone statues of Breton saints. This work in progress by sculptor Philippe Abjean is reminiscent of Easter Island in the southern Pacific Ocean.
The western border of Côtes-d’Armor includes Côte de Granit Rose, or Pink Granite Coast, where massive boulders are piled on top of one another. Some resemble shapes of an elephant’s foot or a stone bottle on its side.
Start hiking at the active town of Perros-Guirec the trail known as Sentier des Douaniers doesn’t require any special footwear and is suitable for all ages. It stretches about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) along the coast. Here customs patrols searched out smugglers around the time of the French Revolution. Find many links to the past along the way, such as a hut used by customs officers, a tiny chapel with gargoyles crouching on its roof and a pink granite lighthouse.
Arrive at the scenic fishing port Ploumanac’h with an excellent variety of restaurants to sample delicious Breton fare paired magnificently with regionally crafted apple-based drinks.
Move eastward and you’ll come across the picturesque fishing village of Paimpol. From here, see the 13th-century abbey at Beauport and travel by boat to the Île-de-Bréhat.
Travel east to several beaches, with exceptional ones near the towns of Saint-Brieuc and Cap d’Erquy. Stop at the beautiful area around Cap Frehel and the national historic site Fort La Latte.
Côtes-d’Armor includes the interesting towns of Saint-Cast-le-Guildo with its expansive beaches, and Dinan, which is one of the best-preserved and most beautiful old towns in Brittany. Continue on your journey east to the Emerald Coast in the next department.