Paimpol

French commune
nomcommune=Paimpol
native_name=Pempoull


caption=The harbor of Paimpol


x=39
y=71
lat_long=coord|48|46|43|N|3|02|43|W|region:FR_type:city
insee=22162
cp=22500
région=Bretagne
département=Côtes-d'Armor
arrondissement=Saint-Brieuc
canton=Paimpol
maire=Jean-Paul Pochard
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=Paimpol-Goëlo]
alt mini=0
alt maxi=86 m
km²=23.61
sans=7932
date-sans=1999
dens=336
date-dens=1999|

Paimpol ( _br. Pempoull) is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Bretagne in northwestern France. It is a very popular tourist destination, especially during the summer months when people are attracted by its port and beaches.

Demographics

Inhabitants of Paimpol are called "Paimpolais".

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.

ights

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 heroïne of his famous novel "Pêcheur d'Islande".

Other popular tourist sights include: the Abbaye de Beauport dating back to 1202, and the chapels of Lanvignec, Ste Barbe and Kergrist.

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.

Twin Towns

* Paimpol is twinned with the town of Grundarfjörður, Iceland and the town of Romsey, United Kingdom.

ee also

*Communes of the Côtes-d'Armor department

External links

* [http://www.paimpol.net Paimpol.net] fr icon
* [http://www.ville-paimpol.fr Ville de Paimpol] fr icon
* [http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/merimee_fr?ACTION=CHERCHER&FIELD_98=INSEE&VALUE_98=22162 French Ministry of Culture list for Paimpol] fr icon