Penmarch

French commune
nomcommune=Penmarch
Lighthouses on the Pointe de Penmarc'h
native_name=Penmarc'h


x=16
y=97
lat_long=coord|47|48|46|N|4|20|12|W|region:FR_type:city
alt mini=-1
alt maxi=23 m
région=Bretagne
département=Finistère
arrondissement=Quimper
canton=Le Guilvinec
insee=29158|cp=29760
maire=Jacqueline Lazard
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=Pays Bigouden Sud
km²=16.39
sans=5889
date-sans=1999
dens=359
date-dens=1999

Penmarc'h or Penmarch (the apostrophe in the name is correct) is a commune in Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.

It lies 18 m. SW of Quimper by road.

History

On the extremity of the peninsula on which it is situated are fortified remains of a town which was of considerable importance from the 14th to the 16th centuries and included, besides Penmarc'h, Saint-Guénolé and Kerity. It owed its prosperity to its cod-banks, the disappearance of which together with the discovery of the Newfoundland cod-banks and the pillage of the place by the bandit La Fontenelle in 1595 contributed to its decadence.

The church of St. Nouna, a Gothic building of the early 16th century at Penmarc'h, and the church of St. Guenole, an unfinished tower, and the church of Kerity are of interest. The coast is very dangerous. On the Pointe de Penmarc'h stands the Phare d'Eckmuhl, with a light visible for 60 miles. There are numerous megalithic monuments in the vicinity.

Demographics

Inhabitants of Penmarc'h are called "Penmarchais".

It is the most populated commune in Guilvinec.

Miscellaneous

Penmarch is also home to the 'Droguen' rock. 'Dorigen' the female protagonist in Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Franklin's Tale" has a name similar to this and this asserts any symbolism a rock may have for her characterFact|date=July 2008.

ee also

*Communes of the Finistère department

References

*1911

External links

* [http://www.penmarch.fr Official website] fr icon
* [http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/merimee_fr?ACTION=CHERCHER&FIELD_98=INSEE&VALUE_98=29158 French Ministry of Culture list for Penmarc'h] fr icon