Quimper
From Freepedia
Quimper (Kemper in Breton, Corspotium in Latin) is a commune of Brittany in northwestern France. Population (1999): 67,127. Its inhabitants are called Quimpérois.
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Administration
Quimper is the préfecture (capital) of the Finistère département.
Geography
The name Quimper comes from the Breton kemper "confluent" because the city was built on the confluence of the Steir, the Odet and the Jet rivers.
History
The city was first named Quimper-Corentin (Saint Corentin was its first bishop), then was renamed Montagne sur Odet during the French Revolution and is now simply Quimper. It is also known as the capital of Cornouaille.
Main Monuments
Image:Bretagne Finistere Quimper 20055.jpg Here are some points of interest:
- the Roman Catholic cathedral of Saint-Corentin
- some lovely churches (Locmaria, Saint-Mathieu, Kerfeunteun, Ergue-Armel...)
- an old downtown with mediaeval fortifications and houses
- Musée des Beaux-Arts (near the cathedral)
- Cornouaille Festival: traditional dance (last week of July)
- Faience museum
Famous citizens
Quimper was the birthplace of:
- Élie Catherine Fréron (1719-1776), critic and controversialist
- René Laënnec (1781-1826), physician, inventor of the stethoscope
- Max Jacob (1876-1944), poet, painter, writer and critic
- Philippe Poupon, sailor
Miscellaneous
Quimper is twinned with:
See also
External Link
- Municipal website
- Visiting Quimper - In English
