- Finistère
Infobox_Department_of_France
department=Finistère
number=29
region=Bretagne
prefecture=Quimper
subprefectures=BrestChâteaulin Morlaix
population=852,418
pop_date=1999
pop_rank=24th
density=127
area=6733
area_scale=9
arrond=4
cantons=54
communes=283
president=Pierre Maille
pres_party=PS
img_coa=Blason29.svgFinistère ( _br. Penn-ar-Bed) is a "département" of
France , located in Brittany ("Breizh" in Breton and "Bretagne" in French).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 theEnglish Channel . It is not to be confused withCape Finisterre inSpain .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 andDouarnenez . Finistère includes the island ofUshant (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 Finistère. A few miles to the south is the slightly less westerly, but rugged, & isolated, headland ofPointe du Raz .Economy
Agriculture ,food processing and various related industries occupy an important place in Finistère's economy.The military presence in Finistère (
Île Longue nuclear submarine base; Naval Air base of Lanvéoc-Poulmic), as well as military-related industries such as the Brest headquarters ofDCNS employ a significant number of the "département"'s population.The port of
Roscoff links Brittany byferry withIreland andGreat 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. [http://www.vieillescharrues.asso.fr/]
ee also
*
Cantons of the Finistère department
*Communes of the Finistère department
*Arrondissements of the Finistère department
*Ys External links
* [http://www.cg29.fr/ General Council website]
* [http://www.finstere.pref.gouv.fr/ Prefecture website]
* ODP|Regional/Europe/France/Regions/Brittany/Finistere|Finistere
* http://www.finisteretourisme.com/
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