Country France Department Finistère Population (2008) 20,604 Local time Saturday 10:15 AM | Region Brittany Canton Concarneau Area 41.08 km² Arrondissement Quimper | |
 | ||
Intercommunality Communes de Concarneau-Cornouaille Weather 9°C, Wind SW at 16 km/h, 77% Humidity Points of interest Château de Keriolet, Musée de la Pêche, Maison du Patrimoine, Plage des Sables Blancs, L'Île Aux Momes | ||
Concarneau brittany north western france
Concarneau (Breton: Konk Kerne, meaning Bay of Cornwall) is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France. Concarneau is bordered to the west by the Baie de La Forêt.
Contents
- Concarneau brittany north western france
- Map of Concarneau France
- Concarneau ancient walled town brittany western france
- Events
- Literature
- Economy
- Population
- Breton language
- Personalities
- International relations
- References
Map of Concarneau, France
The town has two distinct areas: the modern town on the mainland and the medieval Ville Close, a walled town on a long island in the centre of the harbour. Historically, the old town was a centre of shipbuilding. The Ville Close is now devoted to tourism with many restaurants and shops aimed at tourists. However restraint has been shown in resisting the worst excesses of souvenir shops. Also in the Ville Close is the fishing museum. The Ville Close is connected to the town by a drawbridge and at the other end a ferry to the village of Lanriec on the other side of the harbour.
Concarneau ancient walled town brittany western france
Events
In August the town holds the annual Fête des Filets Bleus (Festival of the blue nets). The festival, named after the traditional blue nets of Concarneau's fishing fleet, is a celebration of Breton and pan-Celtic culture. Such festivals can occur throughout Brittany but the Filets Bleus is one of the oldest and largest, attracting in excess of a thousand participants in traditional dress with many times that number of observers. In 2005, the 100th festival was celebrated.
Literature
Concarneau was the setting for Belgian mystery writer Georges Simenon's 1931 novel Le Chien jaune (The Yellow Dog), featuring his celebrated sleuth Maigret.
Economy
Fishing, particularly for tuna, has long been the primary economic activity in Concarneau. The Les Mouettes d'Arvor is one of the last traditional canning factories in Concarneau. Concarneau is one of the biggest fishing ports in France. Since the 1980s, other industries have arisen, such as boat construction and summer tourism.
The Ville Close separates the working port from the yacht basin.
Population
Inhabitants of Concarneau are called in French Concarnois.
Breton language
In 2008, 2.16% of primary-school children attended bilingual schools.