Lighthouse on the shores of pink granite in france. Brittany charm: Plumanac - fancy pink granite
Trips and excursions from tour operators and private guides around Brittany(Bretagne) usually end in the area Saint-Malo, Dinara and Dinana... Few people travel further to the west, and this is where the real Brittany begins - a harsh land of rocks, winds and a boundless ocean. To view the amazing creation of nature, pink granite shore the best place to stay is Perrault-Guirec(Perros-Guirec). Quite an ordinary town located on two shores of the peninsula with bays, a port and coastal promenades. There is a lot of relative budget hotels, restaurants and shops with all sorts of things. Of course, marine paraphernalia prevails: vests, bright waterproof jackets, pea jackets and so on.
Through trial and error, I worked out my best route to walk along the shore of pink granite but, of course, you need a car and at least two tourists, one of whom is a driver. The driver gets up in the parking lot, which is located in a dead end Chemin du Skevell , releases the people and sends them along the trail along the coast.
And he quickly moves to Saint-Guirec (Saint-Guirec), leaves the car in the free parking lot in the port and goes to meet them.
The distance between the points, if you walk along the coastline, is only 3 km, so the driver will meet friends in 30 minutes. They will probably get stuck at the very beginning of the path on endless photographing of rocks in front of themselves, themselves in front of rocks, etc. etc.
The view is actually absolutely unreal, as if some giant was throwing huge boulders, trying to hit something on the shore. Some boulders practically hang in the air, it is not clear what they are relying on.
In many places, the rocks are overgrown with a beautiful carpet of mosses and pale pink-yellow flowers.
On the way you will meet Railway leading into the ocean and a pink granite lighthouse.
Somewhere in the middle of the way there will be a small bay with coastal restaurants where you can have lunch or from 10 to 12 get the formula - 6 oysters and a glass of sauvignon for 7-50.
The route ends at the port of Saint-Guirec. Ebb tides are made twice a day from the port to a dry dock, so props are placed under the yachts so that they do not fall.
Outcome: You will undoubtedly enjoy it if you go through the entire indicated route. Granite is actually pink, the Atlantic Ocean, and Brittany is incomparable!
If you want to go on a trip to Europe that I organize, see the current offers for joining groups on my website www.dmitrysokolov.ru
Dmitry Sokolov
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Ploumanac "h
I don’t even know how to exactly name the place I want to introduce you to. Probably the most accurate name for it is the Pink Granite Coast. This is a picturesque tourist area, equipped with paths for those eager to get in touch with nature and amazing views.
Brittany has an obscene amount of granite. Gray. And in this place, granite, somewhat pink, is especially magical at sunset and sunrise. 30 km of the coast of absolutely pink stones turned out due to the increased concentration of feldspar in them. Such places, with pink granite blocks, on the globe only three: in Brittany, in Corsica and in China. Well, it's far to China, to Corsica - not in the near future, but I'm already here, in France
Pink Granite Coast
Granite in the surrounding quarries has been mined for over 10 thousand years! A cross was installed from this granite on the grave of Charles de Gaulle, the streets of Paris were paved., Not all, of course ... They say that even the Germans once exported it, planned to use it for the construction of the Reich, and after the war, Brittany granite came to ... the USSR, where pink the stone was used for cladding Stalinist skyscrapers.
Somewhere on the trail of customs officers.
On the Russian-speaking Internet, for some reason, the Pink Granite Coast is associated with Perrault-Guirc, which I would not call correct, because The Pink Granite Coast covers several coastal towns, including the already mentioned Perros-Gierec, Ploumanac'h and further Tregastel. Right from the beach in Perros-Guirec, the so-called "Trail of Customs" (sentier des douaniers) begins, about 4 km long, along which you can walk to the town of Ploumanac "h.
This "trail", built on it, was once used by customs officers to fight smugglers. So, all further information will be collected from French sites, so I apologize for the liberties ...
The trail runs along the coast, about 5 km long, not difficult to walk (but sneakers are required), and very impressive. By the way, this natural corner is occupied by the Conservatoire du Littoral, which has been serving, restoring and protecting it for 20 years.
On the trail
By the way, the transcription of Perrault-Guirk in Russian is an extremely thankless task. I have not come across so many options! Around Plunamak, as it turned out, the most concentrated scenic spots this natural miracle! 
Plumanac on the horizon. Low tide - the water is gone. Actually, I'm standing at the bottom of the sea right now.
These are such cute houses
The muzzle is red and impudent. One piece.
What is the coastline famous for? Delicate pink boulders that appeared about 6 million years ago, when granite layers formed from cooled magma at a depth of 6 meters. Erosion, an ice age with all the ensuing consequences, a rise in sea level - the stones were rising, splitting, forming absolutely bizarre shapes. Climbing and lying on them is an amazing pleasure.
Plumanak is famous for its beautiful city beach, thalassotherapy center, casino on the Trestrau beach. The small village of Plumanac and its chapel are nestled in the depths of a well-protected bay with wonderful coastline landscapes
Opposite the beach on the island is an extravagant pink granite castle built at the beginning of the 19th century. Polish engineer. From the village - the kingdom of restaurants and souvenir stalls - the customs officer's path runs along the coast. From every point on this route, recently completely tidied up for the convenience of tourists, there is a magnificent view of the city of Perros-Guirec and the winding coastline- a jumble of bizarre pink granite rocks.
Lie down, sit down, just take a picture ...
Boulders appeared here about 6 million years ago, when granite layers formed from cooled magma at a depth of 6 m. After erosion and demolition of the layers of the earth above them and the rise in sea level after the ice age, the pressure on the lower layers of granite was reduced, which led to the cracking of the stone and the formation of bizarre shapes. 
Well, a wide variety of poses and angles
The inhabitants of Brittany were Christianized by the Welsh saints, who crossed the English Channel, according to legend, on ... a stone! Hmmm, Brittany is a land of legends, so imagine how a trough of stone floats on the water with the Ciel monks! Just three wise men in one basin ...
Thus, according to legend, they landed on the beach at Saint-Guirec in Plumanash. 
On the beach from white sand a small building of granite, built in the 12th century, rises. The location of the chapel with the statue of St. Girek is very interesting, since at high tide only the upper part remains and one gets the impression that he floats, like the stone on which the saint arrived in Brittany could float.
And girls of marriageable age from the village came and stuck needles in the saint's nose. There was a legend that if the needle remained in place, then the girl would get married in the next year.
And don't say you don't like it!
And further important advice before I forgot. In Plunamak - it is compulsory to spend the night! Be sure to get up before sunrise and walk along the trail in different directions all alone and take pictures of the still sleepy sun on ruddy ancient boulders. During the day - a completely different lighting and sensations. It's chilly outside
The sun's rays have not yet reached here ...
The same lighthouse in the morning
I'm going the other way. Very often people are limited only to a walk along the trail of customs officers between Plumanac and Perrault-Guirc. However, if you go behind the casino in Plumanac and follow the path (it is marked) to the local "city" cape, it looks no less magical.
It's such beauty right in Plumanac
And this too
I descend from the mountain to the port. The boats are sleeping
Morning in Plumanac ... Well, it's time to go to the village
Chapel dedicated to the saint
city beach ... especially hardened ones are already swimming. the water heats up very quickly
And in Plunamak, opposite the beach on the island, there is an extravagant castle made of pink granite, built at the beginning of the 19th century. Polish engineer
The castle is on the horizon ...
The trails along the route are superbly equipped. I can lie a little, but they spent about 2 million euros on their equipment, and they collect more for further development. And the signs with inscriptions like: we have specially built paths for you, do not go beyond them, do not trample the grass, it will die from this ...
Somewhere on the trail of customs officers. See the tourist fence?
Everything is flowering. Spring smoothly turns into bright summer
There are also pine trees
Both the beaches and the locals are digging in the gardens ...
To be honest, Plumanak is one of the wonderful places where you can rest well. When the water leaves, people pour out onto the beach, children are especially happy at low tide
Oratorium St. Guirec tide
And the rest is cheap. In the evening, the town has traditionally died out. I found dinner only in the port in a traditional pancake house. It turned out to be the cheapest for the trip - for only 20 euro - cider, mussels, potatoes. By the way, I really liked the tradition in France to always put on the table clean water... Whatever you order, there will be water!
Brittany is generally wonderful. I would love to come back. And maybe I'll come back ... many more times
Côte de granit rose translated from French means "Coast of Pink Granite". It is a stretch of coastline in the Côtes d'Armor department in northern Brittany. It stretches over 30 km from Plestin-les-Grèves to Louannec, including the Trégastel.
This is an amazingly beautiful place: a rugged coastline with huge boulders of a bizarre shape, cut over thousands of years by the waves of the ocean. Due to the rare reddish shade of granite, this place has become a popular tourist attraction not only, but also. This is a very rare type of granite, which is found only in two other places: on ( Les calanques de Piana near a town in the west of the island) and in China.
This unusual color is due to the content of feldspars in granite.
The boulders are about 6 million years old. Then, at a depth of about 6 m, granite layers were formed from the cooled magma. Erosion has gradually removed the topsoil. With the end of the ice age, the sea level rose and the pressure on the lower strata decreased. As a result, the granite began to split, forming boulders of bizarre shape.
One of the most famous such boulders is a huge block with grooves carved by erosion, reminiscent of a person's face in some way:
The most interesting boulders can be seen in the area Plumanach (), thanks to them it has become a popular attraction. The most famous of the boulders are the Turtle, Napoleon's Tricorne and Overturned Clog, so named for obvious analogies.
It is in these parts that one of the most photographed sights is located -:
Location of the Cote de Granit Rose:
The Pink Granite Coast is located in the north of Brittany, near the villages:
Ploumanach - Perros-Guirec - Trelevern - Penvenan - Plougrescant
In France, the thematic name of the coast is quite popular.
List of the different "shores" in France:
- — Mediterranean coast to the border with Italy.
- Silver Coast — Côte d'Argent - the Atlantic coast of France in the Gironde to the mouth of the Adour along the Landes, including the Gulf of Arcachon and Europe's largest Pyla dune, in the region.
The Pink Granite Coast is an unconditional point of attraction for everyone traveling in Brittany. Plumanac, Peros Girek, Tregastel - these names attract travelers from all over the world. The easiest way to get here is by car, but we are not considering this option. Public transport upon closer examination, more or less loyal to backpackers, so I'm telling you how to get to the cherished pink rocks, sculptures and beaches.
Going to the Pink Granite Coast from Lannion
The most important thing in this adventure is. I talk about this in a separate post.
And already from Lannion to the coveted natural beauty is literally a stone's throw. There are many different options from bus to taxi.
Along the Cote d'Armor tourists and local residents transported by the bus company TILT - Lannion-Trégor Communauté. On the site https://www.lannion-tregor.com/fr/deplacements/le-reseau-tilt.html you can download current schedule buses.
Bus route E runs to the Pink Granite Coast from Lannion.
The buses are timed to coincide with the arrival of the very train from Rennes, which I talk about in the post on how to get to Lannion (link above): three day buses (in low season), morning and evening buses at 08.55 and 19.05. The bus follows the route Lannion - Saint-Quay-Perros - Perros-Guirec - Tregastel.
Be careful, the schedule changes from season to season!
It makes no sense to go to Tregastel, you need to go either to Peros-Girek or Plumanaka, or go to the Tourony stop (there are campgrounds on the coast) - it all depends on your plans.
Brittany, Pink Granite Coast, Islands and Birds May 22nd, 2011
In France, they like to call their coasts beautifully. Everyone, of course, has heard Cote d'azur, but besides it there is also the Emerald Coast, Alabaster, Silver, Purple ... And the Pink Granite Coast, where we were a month ago, on Easter weekend. The first time we were going there back in 2006 during our big trip in France, but then plans had to be changed due to the weather. And it just so happened that we got to this unusual coast only five years later.
This coast is called so for the pink color of granite boulders, which are strewn with about 30 km of the coast. The pink color of granite is due to the increased concentration of feldspar in it. There are only three such places - with pink granite boulders - on the globe: in Brittany, in Corsica and in China. It was terribly interesting to look at such an unusual phenomenon with my own eyes and check if the granite is really pink or if it's all photoshop. I report - it's all true! Granite is actually pink and it's amazingly beautiful :)
We decided not to "gallop across Europe" and spend two nights on the Pink Granite Coast. It turned out very cool. And we had a rest and managed to see a lot of interesting things. We lived in the city of Perros-Gierec. Directly from the city, from the beach, the so-called "Trail of Customs" (sentier des douaniers) begins, about 4 km long, along which you can walk to the town of Ploumanac "h, looking at all the beauty along the way.
Before the walk, we had breakfast with the famous Breton buckwheat pancakes and cider. Pancakes were not photographed, but drinks - yes. It is in such low ceramic cups in Brittany (and in Normandy too, and in some places in Paris) they bring apple cider. Breton cider and Breton buckwheat pancakes are great :)
We walked across the beach ...
And immediately the trail began. With gorgeous views opening from it :)
Despite the end of April, the weather was completely summer. The temperature was 25 degrees, the air was filled with floral aromas, bumblebees were buzzing, the sun was shining ... Most for the weekend!
And almost immediately the shore with pink boulders became visible. And the truth is pink - the photos on the Internet did not lie! :)
Not only the color of rocks and stones is unusual, but also their shape. You walk along the path and constantly see something unusual - either a face, an animal, or an object. Curiously, of the most popular boulders mentioned on the Internet and in tourist brochures, even those that have names - Napoleon's cocked hat, inverted clog, turtle - we did not see everything. But they themselves saw many interesting figures and were still surprised why it was not written about them anywhere :) This one, for example, is not the head of a giant bird? By the way, according to the width of the path passing by the stone, you can roughly estimate its dimensions - huge! It was necessary to put a person in this frame for contrast, but I thought about it only at home when I looked at the photographs.
And here - an inverted bottle on the edge of the table.
The water is pure and clear. They could have taken a swim, but they did not dare - the water was already very cold.
We managed to pass only two-thirds of the path, when suddenly the fog began to thicken.
And very, very quickly it became so thick and dense that when we got to Plumanach, one of the most popular "postcard" views with a lighthouse looked ... like this :)
If we had only one opportunity to look at this coast, we would be upset. But we left only the next day, so we decided not to swear at the weather, but to try to return here in the evening at sunset, hoping that the fog would clear up. In the meantime, we sat down in another cafe to refresh ourselves.
There is one popular type of dessert in France - café gourmand. If you order it, they will bring you a cup of espresso and 2-3 small desserts. It is very convenient when you seem to want a dessert, but a dessert of the usual size does not fit into you. The Breton version of café gourmand looks much more impressive ... Coffee in a huge cup, desserts are also enough for two. All three are traditional Breton. The rectangular casserole is called "headlight" and contains prunes. Very tasty. I forgot the names of the other two desserts, I liked them less - too much butter and sugar :)
The second outing in Plumany (fortunately, it's quite simple - there are about 4 km between the towns and there are buses) we took in the evening of the same day. As we expected, the fog cleared away and the setting sun beautifully illuminated the pink-orange stones. These boulders look even more beautiful at sunset.
We even saw this one - a whole huge head with an aquiline nose
We sat on the stones, enjoying the peace and quiet. There was not a soul around, so my feelings were very similar to those when we first appeared in Portugal on the Cape of Cabo da Roca, in the evening and also completely alone ...
We made this classic shot :)
We waited for the sun to set in the ocean, and went to dine on the freshest sea creatures.
In the afternoon, when we were walking, we learned that from Perros-Guirec, where we lived, ships leave for excursions around the archipelago of seven islands, on which there are a lot of different birds. My husband, when he hears something about birds, becomes not himself and immediately wants to go there :) However, this excursion also attracted me, because advertising brochures eloquently promised that among other birds we can see the most beautiful puffins, which are practically a symbol of this Breton city. Even in the hotel where we lived, each floor had the name of one of the local birds, and ours was just a "dead end" - all hung with photographs of these cute birds. Of course, I wanted to see them and photograph them myself! :) Despite the fact that there are not so many puffins on the islands, the organizers of the excursions promised that we would see them. Therefore, we unanimously decided to go on an excursion and the next day we got up early, early to be in the port at 9.
The first ones we saw were the northern gannets.
If we wanted to see the gannets most of all, we would definitely not be disappointed, because there are a LOT of them there :)
We also saw cormorants.
I was not immediately able to remember the name of these birds (especially since we heard them in French), I processed this photo and asked my husband if he remembered the name of the bird. "Black cloak!" - answered the husband :)
Happiness is looking in one direction :)
"But what about the dead ends?" - you ask. We also saw dead ends. In the amount of as many as three and within about a minute :)) No, I even managed to photograph them, but I felt clearly dissatisfied :)
During the excursion, we were dropped off for half an hour on one of the seven islands. At the top there was a fort, you could climb to it and walk around. I again hoped for dead ends, but there were no dead ends again :) But there were these birds with funny name that in Russian, that in French. In French (if translated literally) - oyster magpie, in Russian - mutant hybrid
