- Pont-Aven
French commune
nomcommune=Pont-Aven
native_name=Pont-Aven
caption=Watermill in Pont-Aven, byPaul Gauguin , 1894
x=27
y=96
lat_long=coord|47|51|23|N|3|44|45|W|region:FR_type:city
région=Bretagne
département=Finistère
arrondissement=Quimper
canton=Pont-Aven
insee=29217
cp=29930
maire=Isabelle Biseau
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=Concarneau-Cornouaille
alt mini=0
alt maxi=102 m
hectares=2863
km²=28.63
sans=2960
date-sans=1999
dens=103
date-dens=1999Pont-Aven is a commune in the
Finistère department inBretagne in northwesternFrance .Demographics
Inhabitants of Pont-Aven are called "Pontavenistes".
History
* Pont-Aven is mentioned among the towns which took part in the Breton anti-tax
Rebellion of the Red Bonnets againstLouis XIV of France in1675 .Arts
Pont-Aven is mainly known because of the group of artists who flocked round
Émile Bernard andPaul Gauguin , and who were joined in1888 byPaul Sérusier . They were collectively known as "Pont-Aven School " (French: "École de Pont-Aven", Breton: "Skol Pont-Aven").Pont-Aven School of Contemporary Art (PASCA) [http://www.pontavensa.org] or [http://www.pontaven.org] is an international fine arts program located in the historic artists' colony of Pont-Aven (Brittany, France). The student body is made up of third- year university or art college honors students or post-baccalaureate art majors (fourth/fifth-year) seeking further study.
Pont Aven still attracts artist and art lovers with many commercial galleries in addition to the town's public gallery.
Geography
The Aven River runs through Pont-Aven. The river has relatively favourable water quality, with pH levels slightly alkaline at about 8.5 and electrical conductivity of 19 micro Sienens per centimeter. [Hogan, C Michael, "Water quality of fresh water bodies in northern France", Lumina Press, Aberdeen, Scotland 2006]
The town is at the interface of the tidal estuary and the freshwater river.
ights
Before Pont Aven attracted Gauguin and other artists it was a centre for milling with the river Aven being divided above the town to provide a mill race which powers a series of water mills. Whilst several of these retain their wheels only the last, the Moulin Poulguin is still capable of operating. The mill is now a restaurant and you can see the machinery inside.
Just outside the town are the beech woods of the Bois d'Amour source of inspiration for many artists.
The town is close to Domaine de Kerlann Holiday Park on the road to the adjoining commune of Nevez.
Miscellaneous
The
Brittany Ferries flagship is named after the town.References
ee also
*
Communes of the Finistère department External links
* [http://www.pontaven.com/accueil/web/city.html Official website] en icon/fr icon
* [http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/merimee_fr?ACTION=CHERCHER&FIELD_98=INSEE&VALUE_98=29217 French Ministry of Culture list for Pont-Aven] fr icon
* [http://www.pontaven.org Pont-Aven School of Contemporary Art]
* [http://www.johnkmelvin.com Information on L'Aven Project and John Melvin]
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