Quimper, Bretagne guide de voyage
Visitez Quimper gites : Quimper hotels : location des voitures | Decouvrir Brittany
Quimper, the capital of the Département of Finistere, is situated in a pretty valley at the confluence of the Odet and Steir river estuaries, in the southwestern corner of Brittany.
The town has a rustic atmosphere with charming footbridges spanning the rivers that flow through it. The Church of Locmaria, a Romanesque structure, dates from the 11th century. The Cathedral of Saint-Corentin, with its magnificent Gothic-style façade, was constructed between the 13th and 16th centuries. It is the oldest Gothic structure in Lower Brittany. Its two towers are 250 feet tall; its spires were added in the 19th century. The 15th century stained glass windows are exceptional. The cathedral was named after Quimper’s first bishop.
To the cathedral’s west are the pedestrianized streets of Vieux Quimper with a wide array of crêperies, half-timbered houses and shops. Near the Episcopal palace, which now holds the Musée départemental Breton [devoted to regional history, archaeology, ethnology and economy] are the ruins of the town’s 15th century walls. Nearby is the Musée des Beaux-Arts. The museum has a 19th century façade and an entirely rebuilt interior. It houses a collection of 14th to 21st century paintings that includes works by Boucher, Corot, Oudry and Rubens along with canvases by such Pont-Aven school painters as Bernard, Denis, Lacombe, Maufra and Sérusier.
The town's best known product is Quimper faïence pottery. It has been made here since 1690, using bold provincial designs of Jean-Baptiste Bousquet. The town’s eating establishments boast of some of the best crêpes and cider in Brittany. The town has also been known for copper and bronze work, food items, galvanized ironware, hosiery, leather, paper and woolen goods.
To see
- some lovely churches (Locmaria, Saint-Mathieu, Kerfeunteun, Ergue-Armel)
- an old downtown with medieval fortifications and houses
- Musée des Beaux-Arts (near the cathedral)
- Faience museum
- don't miss the beautiful village at Locronan, south-east of Quimper
Quimper: tourisme, carte, guide de voyage et gites
|
|
Visit Quimper |
Carte de Quimper, France |
(Copyright note: text is made available under the GNU Free Documentation License)
