Côtes d'Armor

On the northern side of the peninsula of Brittany, the département of Côtes-d'Armor is divided into the Armor, which is maritime, fisherman's coutry, and the Argoat of forests and farmlands stretching further inland.

This is a place made for the promeneur. Discover the numerous walks and hike trails through untamed, authentic wilderness. Your peaceful promenades will twist and turn between a coastline studded with seaside resorts and lush little valleys with rich and unforgettable natural scenery.

The Côtes d'Armor is brimming with savours that are steeped in local culture… The bay of Saint-Brieuc boasts incomparable scallops, Paimpol has its "coco" pastries, and the Trégor-Goëlo region produces heavenly Camus artichoke and quality buckwheat galettes.

Côtes-d'Armor is a place to remember.

Traces of human settlement in the Palaeolithic and Neolithic eras are numerous in this area: dolmens, menhirs and most notably the “Stele of the God” in Saint-Brandan. Similarly, vestiges of Roman occupation have also been discovered.

The "Armor Coast" was a favoured destination for Irish immigrants during the 6th century. A number of monasteries were established due to the influence of Saint Colomban. It wasn't until the 14th century, after extensive barbarian invasions and the War of Succession in Brittany, that the area finally knew a time of relative peace.

In the 16th century the county was at last brought into the fold of the French kingdom.

Legend has it that king Arthur himself passed through this area. The Chouannerie (the counter-revolutionary movement) was prevalent in the east of the department during the Revolution, particularly in the Pays de Moncontour and Upper Cornouaille.

On January 26th 1790, the Côtes-du-Nord was born; it was renamed Côtes-d’Armor in 1990.

The Côtes-d'Armor area is forever celebrating the celtic traditions that underpin local culture. Bagad cafés, fest-noz ("night-feast" in Breton) and maritime-oriented festivals all contribute to creating a thriving folk culture.

Celtic music is an important part of the area's identity - concerts and shows are taking place all the time. The "celtic circles" are folk dance routines with large groups holding hands in a circle and doing complex steps. These are particularly popular on weekends. The cercles celtiques are one of the many ways that locals strive to maintain and perpetuate age-old traditionsl.

Gastronomy in the Côtes d'Armor reflects coastal culture, where the riches of the sea meet countryside flavours and terroir products. You can enjoy scallop-shells, Paimpol oysters on a bed of wrack, spider crab, Erquy mussels and seabass… A delicious kig ha farz (porc, beef and vegetables), accompanied by cider, cervoise and "chouchen" (a kind of honeyed beer) will fill you up and keep you warm.

The famed kouign amann will be a nice conclusion to a meal, but there are also Paimpol cocos, artichoke, and a whole range of crêpe and buckwheat-based galettes, with anything you like - butter, sugar, honey, chocolate, jam…