Châteaulin is a commune in the Finistère department and administrative region of Brittany in north-western France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.

Geography

Châteaulin is in a valley towards the center of Finistère on the River Aulne and the Canal de Nantes à Brest, mid-way between Quimper to the south and Brest to the north. To the west the Menez-Hom hills separate it from the Crozon peninsula and the Bay of Douarnenez, which opens into the Atlantic Ocean.

Population

In French the inhabitants of Châteaulin are known as Châteaulinois.

Breton language

In 2008 1.96% of primary-school children attended bilingual schools.

Economy

Châteaulin's economy is based on food processing (salmon and poultry) and, to an ever-greater extent, tourism. The Gendarmerie school on the outskirts of the town provides for a large number of families and the many recruits passing through the school provide the economic backbone of the town's night-life. The cake shop Histoire de Macaron is famous for its tasty and wide range of macaroons as well as the Java, created in 1907 by Mister Le Meur, which is a legend in the town.

Personalities

International relations

Châteaulin is twinned with: