In the heart of the Côtes-d’Armor, Saint-Brieuc forms the base of a “V” with, to the east, the Emerald Coast, to the west, the Pink Granite Coast and Finistère. It is this last road that we suggest you take, to Brest and its spectacular road of lighthouses. That is a hundred kilometers around which we will stop to visit a few towns – Lannion, Morlaix, Roscoff –, seaside resorts and marvelous islands.
A stone’s throw from the sea, the town of Saint-Brieuc, all in wooded valleys and wooded hills, can be explored on foot or by bike (electric!). From the city center and its Saint-Etienne cathedral, one of the rare fortified churches in Brittany, several possible walks to explore the bay: Cap d’Erquy and its magnificent wild moors, Pléneuf-Val-André and its villas adorned with bows -windows or the Valais beach and its colorful huts on stilts. Head west, towards the Pink Granite Coast, which radiates out for about ten kilometers around Lannion. We will start by discovering the medieval heritage of Tréguier, strolling through the alleys and squares of the city. From Perros-Guirec, follow the famous customs footpath to Trébeurden.
Still further west, the bay of Morlaix also offers a wide choice of hikes, from towns to islands, from beaches to villages. On the right bank, don’t miss the cairn of Barnenez, an imposing mausoleum 75 meters long and 28 meters wide. Just opposite, in Carantec, the beach of Tahiti (yes, yes!) will be the ideal setting for a picnic on the white sand, just to taste the local flavors: oysters, abalone rillettes and cider. Before continuing to Roscoff, the island of Batz and their lush botanical gardens. Then Plouescat, its lined beach of granite blocks. From there, Brest is only about forty kilometers away. Why not stop off at La Butte, a hotel-restaurant and spa nestled in Goulven Bay? The opportunity to recharge your batteries and feast on healthy cuisine based on seaweed, glasswort and sea fennel.
In Brest, take the pulse of the city by going to the Ateliers des capucins, a vast covered public square, meeting place and starting point for visiting the banks of the Penfeld. We gain height thanks to the cable car, before reaching the castle and the National Maritime Museum. Located at the entrance to the harbor of Brest, the Petit Minou, in Plouzané, is the first of a long series of land, island or Iroise sea lighthouses. At the extreme west of the coast, the islands of Molène and Ouessant are accessible by boats from the Penn ar Bed company. Better to have the sea legs, because the crossing is often eventful. Enough to fill up with spray and end this journey in style at the end of the world – in France, at least.