Saint-Pol-de-Léon

Saint-Pol-de-Léon
Kastell-Paol
Commune


Coat of arms
Saint-Pol-de-Léon

Coordinates: 48°41′10″N 3°59′06″W / 48.6861°N 3.985°W / 48.6861; -3.985Coordinates: 48°41′10″N 3°59′06″W / 48.6861°N 3.985°W / 48.6861; -3.985
Country France
Region Brittany
Department Finistère
Arrondissement Morlaix
Canton Saint-Pol-de-Léon
Intercommunality Pays Léonard
Government
 • Mayor (2014–2020) Nicolas Floch
Area1 23.43 km2 (9.05 sq mi)
Population (2008)2 7,038
 • Density 300/km2 (780/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 29259 /29250
Elevation 0–57 m (0–187 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Saint-Pol-de-Léon (Breton: Kastell-Paol) is a commune in the Finistère department in Brittany in north-western France, located on the coast.

It is noted for its 13th-century cathedral on the site of the original founded by Saint Paul Aurelian in the 6th century. It has kept a unique architecture, such as Notre-Dame du Kreisker Chapel, an 80 m high chapel, which is the highest in Brittany. It was also the scene of a battle during the Breton War of Succession, where the Montfortists and their English allies defeated an army led by Charles of Blois.

It is the largest vegetable producer and farmers market in Brittany responsible for 90% of French artichoke production and exports tens of thousands of vegetables to the whole of Europe every year.

Population

Inhabitants of Saint-Pol-de-Léon are called Saintpolitains.

Historical population of Saint-Pol-de-Léon
Year1962196819751982199019992008
Population8347804480447462726171217038

History

The city takes its present name of one of the legendary founder saints of Brittany : Saint Paul Aurelian. The Latin name given to the entire region is now the Leon ("Pays Léonard"). It was long the seat of a bishop, now merged into the Roman Catholic Diocese of Quimper. The city later became a sort of religious capital.

Gallo-Roman walls

A double stone-alley, quite well preserved, is the last remains of prehistoric population on Saint Pol site. Several vestiges demonstrate a Roman military presence in the 3rd century. Based on ancient writings, Saint Pol would have then been enclosed by extraordinary high motted walls.

14th century

Battle of St Pol de Léon

Religious centre

As of the 6th century, the monastery site became an episcopate named "Kastell Paol". The city then extended beyond its walls. In the 15th century, Saint Pol de Léon is a famous spiritual and cultural centre. The Pempoul harbour is at its rise. Fortified doors protected the 2000 inhabitants until the 18th century. During the 18th century, the bishops of Léon strongly influenced the architectural style of the city. A new episcopal house was erected in 1706 and extended in 1750. The seminary dates from 1708, the catholic college from 1788.

The Révolution

During the Révolution the city lost the episcopate, a rich chapter, a college, 3 religious communities, a retirement house and 15 religious houses. Then started 100 years of economical decline. "Today Saint Pol de Léon is a dead city" was Flaubert's assessment in 1847.

19th and 20th centuries

As of 1883, the railway contributed to the considerable expansion of the agricultural production. In 1890 Saint Pol de Léon became the main commercial centre in France for vegetable exportation. Nowadays, the region is still the strongest concentration for horticultural production and transformation.

Sights

The Saint-Paul-Aurélien Cathedral
The Kreisker chapel

Coast

Scattered over 13 kilometres of coast line, some of the beaches, creeks and strands of St Pol de Léon have names of pieces of poetry : "Tahiti", le "Petit-Nice", "Sainte-Anne"… The walker discovers them from the panoramic viewpoint of the "Champ de la Rive" municipal park, which is overhung by a mission cross erected in 1901. The panorama is the most exceptional of the North-Finistère. All along the coast, a foot path will give you a unique view on the changing Channel, the Bloscon deep harbour of Roscoff, the Callot island with its chapel near Carantec. The boats, most of which of traditional construction, lie there awaiting for the flow to come. The sailing school at the end of the "Groue" pier proposes multiple sea activities for beginners or experienced users.

St. Anne islet

The Sainte-Anne islet a listed natural site and hermitage of the White Friars until the 18th century, the gigantic rock on the site, was once armed with cannons. Natural preserved site, where nothing remains of the chapel built in 1640. It is linked to the continent by natural bank of sand and pebbles, tarmacked in the 1970s. The "Groue" is the sediment strand which links the coast to the Sainte Anne island, forming the bay of Pempoul with its ashore harbour. The islet always played an essential role in the protection of the bay and the harbour of Pempoul.

Breton language

Skol Diwan, Breton primary school

Personalities

Saint-Pol-de-Léon is the birthplace of :

International relations

Saint-Pol-de-Léon is twinned with

See also

References

  1. ↑ (in French) Ofis ar Brezhoneg: Enseignement bilingue
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