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

Contents

History

Geography

Economy

Culture

See also

External links

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/