Pont-l'Abbé

Pont-l'Abbé (; , "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.

Geography

Climate

Pont-l'Abbé has a oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification ''Cfb''). The average annual temperature in Pont-l'Abbé is . The average annual rainfall is with November as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around . The highest temperature ever recorded in Pont-l'Abbé was on 16 July 2006; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 2 January 1997.

Population

Inhabitants of Pont-l'Abbé are called in French ''Pont-l'Abbistes''.

Breton language

The municipality launched a linguistic plan concerning the Breton language through Ya d'ar brezhoneg on 2 February 2008.

In 2008, 5.08% of primary-school children attended bilingual schools. ''Ofis ar Brezhoneg''
''Enseignement bilingue''
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Th
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 the 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.

File:Chateau pont labbe.jpg, Present view of the Castle's keep, south view.
File:Chateau de Pont l'abbé.jpg, the Castle's keep, north view.
File:Kastell a pont-n abad - 1921.jpg, the Castle's keep, from Rue Kereon, 1921.

International relations

Pont-l'Abbé is twinned with:
* Betanzos, Spain
* Schleiden, Germany
* Bantry, Ireland

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, who was 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

*Communes of the Finistère department

References

External links

Official website

Official Pont-l'Abbé Tourism siteBigouden Museum of Pont-l'Abbé

Ar Triskell, Cultures' House of Pont-l'Abbé

*
Mayors of Finistère Association

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pontlabbe
Communes of Finistère