Laz, Finistère

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Laz is a commune located in the canton of Châteauneuf du Faou in the Finistère département in Brittany, France. The commune is situated at the heart of a hilly and forest-covered region called Montagnes Noires (black mountains, in English) which extends for approximately thirty kilometers between the communes of Gourin to the east and Gouezec in the west. Laz currently has a population of 740.

The commune itself is quite scattered, forming small villages that would qualify as hamlets in other regions. Laz offers exceptional scenic outlooks to its inhabitants and those walking through. These viewpoints look out over the valley of Odet to the south and the canalized Aulne river and its serene locks to the north.

Historically, Laz has found itself at the center of a region full of significant events, with an attested Roman colonization and Christianization by the famous Breton Saints. Remnants of the Middle Ages can also be found in some monuments and many place-names.

The commune's history becomes clearer as of the 15th century and becomes particularly rich from the 17th century onwards.

Agricultural development was held back by the French revolution and the subsequent royalist revolt , combined with poor soil conditions. The commune started to grow in the middle of the 19th century, when the use of fertiliser and other new techniques allowed the land to be brought into full agricultural use. The population reached a peak in the 1920s and has gradually declined since then.

During the last five years, newcomers have moved in, many of them working in Châteauneuf-du-Faou, Briec, Quimper or Carhaix. They have helped to bring life back to Laz and the surrounding area.