Finistere: Land's End, Breton Culture, and Atlantic Drama
Finistere, meaning 'end of the earth' (from the Latin finis terrae), occupies the western tip of Brittany. Quimper, the prefecture, has a Gothic cathedral and is the centre of Breton faience pottery. Brest, the larger city, is France's second naval port and home to Oceanopolis, a major aquarium and ocean science centre.
The department's coastline is among the most dramatic in France: the Crozon peninsula, the Pointe du Raz (a headland that once appeared on French franc coins), and the Abers (fjord-like inlets) in the north. Concarneau is a fishing port with a walled old town on an island. The Ile d'Ouessant (Ushant), off the coast, is one of the windiest places in France. Breton language and culture are strongest in Finistere, with bilingual road signs and active cultural organisations. The population is about 928,000.
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Finistere, meaning 'end of the earth' (from the Latin finis terrae), occupies the western tip of Brittany. Quimper, the prefecture, has a Gothic cathedral and is the centre of Breton faience pottery. Brest, the larger city, is France's second naval port and home to Oceanopolis, a major aquarium and ocean science centre.
The department's coastline is among the most dramatic in France: the Crozon peninsula, the Pointe du Raz (a headland that once appeared on French franc coins), and the Abers (fjord-like inlets) in the north. Concarneau is a fishing port with a walled old town on an island. The Ile d'Ouessant (Ushant), off the coast, is one of the windiest places in France. Breton language and culture are strongest in Finistere, with bilingual road signs and active cultural organisations. The population is about 928,000.
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