Coordinates: 48°46′43″N 3°02′43″W / 48.77861°N 3.04528°W / 48.77861; -3.04528
Paimpol (Breton: Pempoull) is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Bretagne in north-western France. It is a very popular tourist destination, especially during the summer months when people are attracted by its port and beaches.
[edit] Demographics
Inhabitants of Paimpol are called Paimpolais.
[edit] Breton language
The municipality launched a linguistic plan through Ya d'ar brezhoneg on September the 29th of 2008.
In 2007, there was 10,8% of the children attended the bilingual schools in primary education.[1]
[edit] Events
Tourists are well catered for with regular events such as the Tuesday morning street market, night-markets, and "Mardi du port" - where tourists can enjoy diverse world music beside the port. Paimpol is also home to the bi-annual "Fête des chants de marin" (Sea shanty festival) which attracts thousands of visitors over three days in August.
[edit] Sights
This is a reflection of the local residents' pride in their maritime heritage which can be seen all around the town. From the numerous seafood restaurants and souvenirs down to clothing. Blue and white striped-jumpers are immediately visible in the streets and are seen to reflect not only their pride in all things to do with the sea, but also in their région, Brittany.
The town centre leads from the port down to the coast, through charming cobbled streets filled with lively restaurants, cafés and bars. An especially beautiful part of the town centre is the Quartier Latin. It was at La place du Martray that Pierre Loti chose to put the house of Gaud, the heroine of his famous novel Pêcheur d'Islande. The attractions of the town are also a major theme of Guy Ropartz's opera Le Pays and Théodore Botrel's song La Paimpolaise.
Other popular tourist sights include: the Abbaye de Beauport dating back to 1202, and the chapels of Lanvignec, Ste Barbe and Kergrist.
The port in panorama. To the left: the Morand Quay, to the right: the Duguay-Trouin Quay
[edit] Around Paimpol
L'île de Bréhat is a rocky archipelago 10 minutes by ferry from the coast next to Paimpol. It is made up of two large islands connected by a bridge, and numerous smaller ones.
Other places of interest in the area include the Moulin de Craca and Circuit de falaises in Plouézec, as well as Pors-Even and the Tour de Kerroc'h in Ploubazlanec.
[edit] Twin towns
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ (French) Ofis ar Brezhoneg: Enseignement bilingue
