Pont-l'Abbé

French commune
nomcommune=Pont-l'Abbé
native_name=Pont-'n-Abad


caption=Coat of Arms of Pont-l'Abbé


x=18
y=96
lat_long=coord|47|52|05|N|4|13|19|W|region:FR_type:city
région=Bretagne
département=Finistère
arrondissement=Quimper
canton=Pont-l'Abbé
insee=29220
cp=29120
maire=Daniel Couic
mandat=2008-2014
intercomm=Pays Bigouden Sud
alt mini=0
alt maxi=37 m
hectares=1821
km²=18.21
sans=7849
date-sans=1999
dens=431
date-dens=1999

Pont-l'Abbé ( _br. Pont-'n-Abad, "Abbot's bridge") is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.

Introduction

The self-styled capital of Bigouden (roughly the region between the river Odet and the Bay of Audierne), Pont-l'Abbé was founded by the monk of Loctudy who built the first bridge across the river estuary (hence the name). The monk also built the castle, which dates originally from the 14th century

Demographics

Inhabitants of Pont-l'Abbé are called "Pont-l'Abbistes".

Monuments

* The Pont-l'Abbé's castle (City hall and Bigouden museum (Very nice collection of costumes and Bigouden head-dresses)), castle from the 14th and 18th centuries. The "wedding" room decorated with Mathurin Méheut pieces of art (Sainte-Marine port), Henri Sollier and Jacques Godin.
* The'Notre-Dame des Carmes's church, old church from the 16th century (1383-1420). With a gothic style, it has many old statues and a very nice rose window over the high altar considered to be the loveliest of Bretagne.
* The'Lambour' church(13th-16th century) the roof had been removed in 1675 under Louis XIV's reign in reprisal of the "Bonnets Rouges" revolution.
* The Monument aux Bigoudens, master piece in granit stone by François Bazin (1931), shows a group of five Bigoudènes in traditional costume from the begenning of XXth century (four women and a child) all of them thinking of their sons, father, husband or grand child, fighting on the high sea against the storm.
* The Manoir de Kernuz, restaured around 1850 by the historian of Brittany, Armand du Chatellier.

Places to visit

* Here is a good walk you can take, along the River of Pont-l'Abbé when the tide is high. It's called the "chemin du halage", and it's where locals used to walk and jog.
* Each Thursday, Pont-l'Abbé has a big market, "le marché du jeudi" which is very crowded during the summer. You'll find very tasty food there such as good French cheese, French "charcuterie", fruit (strawberries from Plougastel), Brittany food specialities, Kwing Aman, crêpes, and alcoholic beverages such as cider, chouchen, and lambig. Plus other good things to buy or eat.
* If you want to buy a souvenir from Brittany, a gift for your friend, or even for the locals who take care of you at their guest place, you have to go to Sophie C.'s shop. It's a very nice place were you can meet one of the most famous artists in Brittany ( rewarded many times for her work and skills). Sophie draws her inspiration from the traditional embroidery patterns of her hometown. In her shop you can find faience pottery, tablecloths, towels, aprons, glassware, greeting cards and many other nice things to bring back home.

Twin towns

* Betanzos, Spain
* Schleiden, Germany

Notable people

Jérôme Kerviel grew up in Pont-l'Abbé, the trader formerly with Société Générale in Paris, and that was linked with losses of approximately €4.9 billion (US$7.16 billion) stemming from fraudulent equity index futures trading.

ee also

*Communes of the Finistère department

References

* [http://www.amf29.asso.fr/ Mayors of Finistère Association] fr icon;
* [http://www.insee.fr/en/home/home_page.asp INSEE] en icon;
* [http://www.ign.fr/rubrique.asp?rbr_id=1&lng_id=EN IGN] en icon

External links

* [http://www.ville-pontlabbe.fr Official website] fr icon
* [http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/merimee_fr?ACTION=CHERCHER&FIELD_98=INSEE&VALUE_98=29220 French Ministry of Culture list for Pont-l'Abbé] fr icon