Pont-l'Abbé (, "Abbot's bridge") is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France. The self-styled capital of Pays Bigouden (roughly the region between the river Odet and the Bay of Audierne), Pont-l'Abbé was founded in the 14th century by a monk of Loctudy who built the first bridge across the river estuary, hence the name. The same monk also built the first castle.

Geography

Climate

Pont-l'Abbé has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb). The average annual temperature in Pont-l'Abbé is 12.8 C. The average annual rainfall is 993.3 mm with November as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 18.7 C, and lowest in January, at around 7.5 C. The highest temperature ever recorded in Pont-l'Abbé was 37.1 C on 16 July 2006; the coldest temperature ever recorded was -10.8 C on 2 January 1997.

Population

Inhabitants of Pont-l'Abbé are called in French Pont-l'Abbistes.

Breton language

The municipality launched a linguistic plan concerning the Breton language through Ya d'ar brezhoneg on 2 February 2008. In 2008, 5.08% of primary-school children attended bilingual schools. The Fête des Brodeuses (Embroideress' Festival) in July is one of Brittany's major traditional gatherings, and includes a Breton Mass at the Notre-Dame des Carmes church.

Sights

International relations

Pont-l'Abbé is twinned with:

Personalities