Pont-l'Abbé
| Pont-l'Abbé Pont-'n-Abad | ||
|---|---|---|
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The harbour of Pont-l'Abbé | ||
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| Motto: Heb Ken | ||
  Pont-l'Abbé | ||
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Location within Brittany region  Pont-l'Abbé | ||
| Coordinates: 47°52′05″N 4°13′19″W / 47.8681°N 4.2219°WCoordinates: 47°52′05″N 4°13′19″W / 47.8681°N 4.2219°W | ||
| Country | France | |
| Region | Brittany | |
| Department | Finistère | |
| Arrondissement | Quimper | |
| Canton | Pont-l'Abbé | |
| Intercommunality | Pays Bigouden Sud | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor (2014–2020) | Thierry Mavic | |
| Area1 | 18.21 km2 (7.03 sq mi) | |
| Population (2011)2 | 8,432 | |
| • Density | 460/km2 (1,200/sq mi) | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 29220 / 29120 | |
| Elevation | 0–37 m (0–121 ft) | |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | ||
Pont-l'Abbé (Breton: Pont-'n-Abad, "Abbot's bridge") is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.
The self-styled capital of Pays Bigouden (roughly the region between the river Odet and the Bay of Audierne), Pont-l'Abbé was founded in the 14th century by a monk of Loctudy who built the first bridge across the river estuary, hence the name. The same monk also built the first castle.
Population
Inhabitants of Pont-l'Abbé are called in French Pont-l'Abbistes.
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1793 | 1,698 | — |
| 1800 | 1,884 | +11.0% |
| 1806 | 1,883 | −0.1% |
| 1821 | 2,115 | +12.3% |
| 1831 | 2,785 | +31.7% |
| 1836 | 3,163 | +13.6% |
| 1841 | 3,325 | +5.1% |
| 1846 | 3,626 | +9.1% |
| 1851 | 3,810 | +5.1% |
| 1856 | 3,947 | +3.6% |
| 1861 | 4,286 | +8.6% |
| 1866 | 4,526 | +5.6% |
| 1872 | 4,739 | +4.7% |
| 1876 | 4,991 | +5.3% |
| 1881 | 5,110 | +2.4% |
| 1886 | 5,729 | +12.1% |
| 1891 | 5,536 | −3.4% |
| 1896 | 5,797 | +4.7% |
| 1901 | 6,315 | +8.9% |
| 1906 | 6,432 | +1.9% |
| 1911 | 6,652 | +3.4% |
| 1921 | 6,637 | −0.2% |
| 1926 | 6,724 | +1.3% |
| 1931 | 6,656 | −1.0% |
| 1936 | 6,563 | −1.4% |
| 1946 | 6,644 | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 6,393 | −3.8% |
| 1962 | 6,396 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 6,791 | +6.2% |
| 1975 | 7,325 | +7.9% |
| 1982 | 7,266 | −0.8% |
| 1990 | 7,374 | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 7,846 | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 8,079 | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 8,322 | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 8,432 | +1.3% |
Breton language
The municipality launched a linguistic plan through Ya d'ar brezhoneg on February 2, 2008.
In 2008, 5.08% of primary-school children attended bilingual schools.[1]
The Fête des Brodeuses (Embroideress' Festival) in July is one of Brittany's major traditional gatherings, and includes a Breton Mass at the Notre-Dame des Carmes church.
Sights
- Pont-l'Abbé castle dates from the 14th to the 18th centuries. The "wedding" room is decorated with Mathurin Méheut pieces of art (Sainte-Marine port), Henri Sollier and Jacques Godin. Once bigger, the castle lost its ramparts during the 19th century. Today only the bridge, the keep, and a very small part of the ramparts, in the garden nearby, can be seen. The structure now serves as the city hall, housing also the Bigouden Museum, offering a fine collection of costumes and Bigouden head-dresses,
- Church of Notre-Dame des Carmes dates from 1383-1420 in the Gothic style, with many old statues and a very fine rose window over the high altar that is considered the loveliest in Brittany.
- Church of Lambour (13th-16th century) had its roof removed in 1675 in the reign of Louis XIV in reprisal against the "Red Bonnets" uprising.
- The Monument aux Bigoudens is a masterpiece in granite by François Bazin (1931) and shows a group of four Bigoudène women and a child in traditional costume from the beginning of 20th century, all of them thinking of a son, a father, a husband or a grandson battling the elements on the high seas.
- The Manoir de Kernuz was restored c. 1850 by the historian of Brittany, Armand du Chatellier.
- The Manoir de Kerazan located between Pont-l'Abbé and Loktudi delivers a fine art of Architecture.
- The Chapel of Treminoù (the missings in Breton) on the road to St-Jean-Trolimon, celebrates the memory of the Breton insurgents slaughtered by the French army of Louis XIV. In particular, A gathering in the last week of September and a funfair festival in the City recalls this period of Brittany's history.
- A few Menhirs still island upright around the city.
- Down to the river by the sea, lies a ria, having given its name to Loktudi (Loch Tudi, the lagoon of Saint Tudi) and Isle Tudi, which shares some beautiful sights.
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Present view of the Castle's keep, south view.
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the Castle's keep, north view.
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the Castle's keep, from Rue Kereon, 1921.
International relations
Pont-l'Abbé is twinned with:
Personalities
- Vincent Riou, a yacht race Sailor who distinguished himself at Vendée Globe Challenge 2004-2005 (1st) and 2008-2009 (3rd) with act of bravery, saving Jean Le Cam's Life, sinking near of Cape Horn.
- Jérôme Kerviel, the trader formerly with Société Générale in Paris that was linked with losses of approximately €4.9 billion (US$7.16 billion) stemming from fraudulent equity index futures trading, grew up in Pont-l'Abbé.
See also
References
- ↑ (French) Ofis ar Brezhoneg: Enseignement bilingue
- Mayors of Finistère Association (French)
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pont-l'Abbé. |
- Official website (French)
- Official Pont-l'Abbé Tourism site
- Bigouden Museum of Pont-l'Abbé (French)
- Ar Triskell, Cultures' House of Pont-l'Abbé (French)
- French Ministry of Culture list for Pont-l'Abbé (French)
