Paimpol

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Coordinates: 48°46′43″N 3°02′43″W / 48.77861, -3.04528

Commune of Paimpol

Pempoull

The harbor of Paimpol

Location

Coordinates

48°46′43″N 3°02′43″W / 48.77861, -3.04528

Administration

Paimpol (chief town)

Communauté de communes Paimpol - Goëlo

Mayor

Jean-Paul Pochard
(2001-2008)

Statistics

Elevation

0 m–86 m

Land area^¹

23.61 km²

Population^²
(1999)

7,932

- Density

336/km² (1999)

Miscellaneous

INSEE/Postal code

22162/ 22500

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

² Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.

Paimpol (Breton: Pempoull) is a small town and a commune of the Côtes-d'Armor département, in the French région of Bretagne (approximately 80% of Brittany). It is a very popular tourist destination, especially during the summer months when people are attracted by its port and beaches.

1 Demographics
2 Events
3 Sights
4 Around Paimpol
5 Twin Towns
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Demographics

Inhabitants of Paimpol are called Paimpolais.

As of the census of 1999, the town has a population of 7,932.

[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

Beauport Abbey

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.

[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.