Pont-l'Abbé

Pont-l'Abbé (Breton: Pont-'n-Abad, "Abbot's bridge") is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.

Pont-l'Abbé

Pont-'n-Abad
Commune
The harbour of Pont-l'Abbé
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
Heb Ken
Location of Pont-l'Abbé
Pont-l'Abbé
Pont-l'Abbé
Coordinates: 47°52′05″N 4°13′19″W
CountryFrance
RegionBrittany
DepartmentFinistère
ArrondissementQuimper
CantonPont-l'Abbé
IntercommunalityPays Bigouden Sud
Government
 • Mayor (2014–2020) Thierry Mavic
Area
1
18.21 km2 (7.03 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[1]
8,250
 • Density450/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
29220 /29120
Elevation0–37 m (0–121 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

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.

Population

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

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1793 1,698—    
1800 1,884+11.0%
1806 1,883−0.1%
1821 2,115+12.3%
1831 2,785+31.7%
1836 3,163+13.6%
1841 3,325+5.1%
1846 3,626+9.1%
1851 3,810+5.1%
1856 3,947+3.6%
1861 4,286+8.6%
1866 4,526+5.6%
YearPop.±%
1872 4,739+4.7%
1876 4,991+5.3%
1881 5,110+2.4%
1886 5,729+12.1%
1891 5,536−3.4%
1896 5,797+4.7%
1901 6,315+8.9%
1906 6,432+1.9%
1911 6,652+3.4%
1921 6,637−0.2%
1926 6,724+1.3%
1931 6,656−1.0%
YearPop.±%
1936 6,563−1.4%
1946 6,644+1.2%
1954 6,393−3.8%
1962 6,396+0.0%
1968 6,791+6.2%
1975 7,325+7.9%
1982 7,266−0.8%
1990 7,374+1.5%
1999 7,846+6.4%
2008 8,079+3.0%
2010 8,322+3.0%
2011 8,432+1.3%

Breton language

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

In 2008, 5.08% of primary-school children attended bilingual schools.[2]

The 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.
  • Present view of the Castle's keep, south view.
  • the Castle's keep, north view.
  • the Castle's keep, from Rue Kereon, 1921.

International relations

Pont-l'Abbé is twinned with:

• 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.
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See also

References
  1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. (in French) Ofis ar Brezhoneg: Enseignement bilingue
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