'Finistère' (''Penn-ar-Bed'' in
Breton) is a ''
département'' of
France, located in
Brittany (''Bretagne'' in
French).
History
The name ''Finistère'' derives from the Latin ''Finis Terræ'', meaning ''end of the earth'', as does the Breton name for the region, 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.
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.
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.
Culture
Finistère is the area where
Breton survives most strongly as a spoken language. Breton-speaking schools are called Diwan, Divyezh and Dihun.
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]
See also
★
Cantons of the Finistère department
★
Communes of the Finistère department
★
Arrondissements of the Finistère department
★
Ys
External links
★
Conseil Général website (n French)
★
Prefecture website (in French)
★
Finistère Tourism Guide
★
Cultural Heritage
★ http://www.finisteretourisme.com/
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