Finistère

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Finistère
Image:Blason29.PNG
The Finistère coat of arms
Location

Administration
Département number:	29
Région:	Bretagne
Préfecture:	Quimper
Sub-Préfectures:	Brest Châteaulin Morlaix
Arrondissements:	5
Cantons:	54
Communes:	283
Conseiller Général:	Pierre Maille
Statistics
Population	Ranked 24th
-1999	852,418
Population density:	127/km²
Land area¹:	6733 km²

¹ French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km².
Image:Flag of France.svg

Finistère (Penn-ar-Bed in Breton) is a département of France, located in Brittany (Bretagne in French).

1 History
2 Geography
3 Economy
4 Culture
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] History

The name Finistère derives from the Latin Finis Terræ, meaning end of the earth and may be compared with Land's End on the opposite side of the English Channel. It is not to be confused with Cape Finisterre in Spain.

[edit] Geography

Finistère is the most westerly part of metropolitan France.

The largest population center, and only city, in Finistère is Brest. Other large towns in the département include Quimper, Morlaix, Carhaix and Douarnenez. Finistère includes the island of Ushant (Ouessant in French).

The abers, rugged fjord-like inlets on the north coast, are a notable feature of the landscape.

The westernmost point of continental France, known as the Pointe de Corsen, extends from the north-western tip of the Finistère.

[edit] Economy

Agriculture, food processing and various related industries occupy an important place in the Finistère's economy.

The military presence in the Finistère (Ile Longue nuclear submarine base; Naval Air base of Lanvéoc-Poulmic), as well as military-related industries such as the Brest headquarters of DCN employ a significant number of the département's population.

The port of Roscoff links Brittany by ferry with Ireland and Great Britain.

[edit] Culture

Finistère is the area where Breton survives most strongly as a spoken language.

The Festival de Cornouaille, which takes place in Quimper, is a celebration of Breton music and traditions.

One of the highlights of summer in Finistère is the "Festival des Vieilles Charrues" held in Carhaix-Plouguer where major international stars attract tens of thousands of spectators.[1]