Pont-Aven
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Commune of Pont-Aven |
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| Pont-Aven | ||
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| Watermill in Pont-Aven, by Paul Gauguin, 1894 | ||
| Location | ||
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| Coordinates | ||
| Administration | ||
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| Country | France | |
| Region | Bretagne | |
| Department | Finistère | |
| Arrondissement | Quimper | |
| Canton | Pont-Aven (chief town) | |
| Intercommunality | C.C. de Concarneau-Cornouaille | |
| Mayor | Isabelle Biseau (2001-2008) |
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| Statistics | ||
| Elevation | 0 m–102 m | |
| Land area¹ | 28.63 km² | |
| Population² (1999) |
2,960 | |
| - Density | 103/km² (1999) | |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| INSEE/Postal code | 29217/ 29930 | |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | ||
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once. | ||
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Pont-Aven is a commune of the Finistère département, in Brittany, France.
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[edit] Demographics
Inhabitants of Pont-Aven are called Pontavenistes.
As of the census of 1999, the town has a population of 2,960.
[edit] History
- Pont-Aven is mentioned among the towns which took part in the Breton anti-tax Rebellion of the Red Bonnets against Louis XIV of France in 1675.
[edit] Arts
Pont-Aven is mainly known because of the group of artists who flocked round Émile Bernard and Paul Gauguin, and who were joined in 1888 by Paul Sérusier. They were collectively known as "Pont-Aven School" (French: École de Pont-Aven, Breton: Skol Pont-Aven).
Pont-Aven School of Contemporary Art (PASCA)[1] or [2]is an international fine arts program located in the historic artists' colony of Pont-Aven (Brittany, France). The student body is made up of third- year university or art college honors students or post-baccalaureate art majors (fourth/fifth-year) seeking further study.
Pont Aven still attracts artist and art lovers with many commercial galleries in addition to the town's public gallery.
[edit] Geography
The Aven River runs through Pont-Aven. The river has relatively favourable water quality, with pH levels slightly alkaline at about 8.5 and electrical conductivity of 19 micro Sienens per centimeter.[1]
The town is at the interface of the tidal estuary and the freshwater river.
[edit] Sights
Before Pont Aven attracted Gauguin and other artists it was a centre for milling with the river Aven being divided above the town to provide a mill race which powers a series of water mills. Whilst several of these retain their wheels only the last, the Moulin Poulguin is still capable of operating. The mill is now a restaurant and you can see the machinery inside.
Just outside the town are the beech woods of the Bois d'Amour source of inspiration for many artists.
The town is close to Domaine de Kerlann Holiday Park on the road to the adjoining commune of Nevez.
[edit] Miscellaneous
The Brittany Ferries flagship is named after the town.
[edit] References
- ^ Hogan, C Michael, "Water quality of fresh water bodies in northern France", Lumina Press, Aberdeen, Scotland 2006
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official website (English)/(French)
- French Ministry of Culture list for Pont-Aven (French)
- Pont-Aven School of Contemporary Art
- Information on L'Aven Project and John Melvin
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