Page 103 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany
P. 103
C Ô TES D ’ ARMOR 101
e Ploumanac’h
On account of its spectacular
rocks, this former fishing village,
now a district of Perros-Guirec,
is one of the greatest tourist
attractions in Brittany. Pointe de
Squewel, one hour’s walk along
the coast path from Plage
St-Guirec, north of Ploumanac’h,
is a promontory with gigantic
piles of rocks that suggest such
incongruous shapes as tortoises,
rabbits and tricorn hats. The
Maison du Littoral, level with
the lighthouse, contains
displays explaining how the
rocks were formed, and
describing local flora and fauna. Plage de Trestraou, one of several beaches at Perros-Guirec
The Chapelle Notre-Dame-
de-la-Clarté (1445), midway r Perros-Guirec Environs
between Ploumanac’h and Road map C1. £ Lannion. * 7,890. From Perros-Guirec there is a
Perros-Guirec, is the focus of a n 21 Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville; (02) boat service to the Sept-Îles
very lively annual pardon. The 96 23 21 15. ( Fri. _ Festival de Archipelago, one of the best
chapel has an interesting porch la Bande Dessinée (Apr); Fête des places to see sea birds. One
with relief decoration, and, Hortensias (Jul); Ploumanac’h of the islands, the Île aux
inside, a stoup (1931) decorated Regatta (late Jul); Pardon de Notre- Moines, is named after the
with heads of Moors and the Dame-de-la-Clarté (15 Aug). Franciscan friars who settled
Stations of the Cross. It was ∑ perros-guirec.com there in the Middle Ages.
made by Maurice Denis, a Also on the island is a
founder of the group of painters With about a dozen beaches and lighthouse and a small fort
known as the Nabis. many hotels, this coastal resort built by Garangeau, the
The Vallée des Traouïéros, attracts large numbers of visitors architect responsible for
between Ploumanac’h and in summer. As at Ploumanac’h, St-Malo’s fortifications
Trégastel, runs between blocks the coast here has extra ordinary (see pp84–9).
of granite and lush vegetation. rock formations shaped by the
The restored tidal mill here erosion of wind and rain. g Embarcadère des
dates from the 14th century. The coast path, running the Sept-Îles
6 km (4 miles) between Plage (boarding point for boat service),
O Maison du Littoral de Trestraou and the famous Plage de Trestraou. Tel (02) 96 91 10
Opposite lighthouse. Tel (02) 96 91 62 rocks at Ploumanac’h, offers 00. Open Apr–Sep: daily; rest of the
77. Open mid–end Jun & start–mid- stunning views. year: by arrangement.
Sep: Mon–Sat; Jul–Aug: daily; school
holidays at other times: Mon–Fri pm.
Sept-Îles Bird Sanctuary
Although the islands’ best-known
inhabitant is the puffin, the Sept-
Îles archipelago, a protected
area, is also home to fulmars,
kittiwakes, pied oystercatchers,
gulls, crested cormorants and
other sea birds. Twenty thousand
pairs breed in this protected area.
Only one island, the Île aux
Moines, is accessible to the
public, although the birds on the
other islands can be observed
from motorboats. On the Île de
Roizic, 15,130 pairs of gannets
and 248 pairs of puffins nest in
the craggy rocks. Grey seals can
sometimes be seen at the foot
of the cliffs in the islands’ The puffin, the emblematic
Granite rocks at Pointe de Squewel, a major secluded creeks. inhabitant of the Sept-Îles
tourist attraction
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