Plougastel-Daoulas (; ) is a commune in the Finistère department, located in the administrative region of Brittany, northwestern France.

Population

Inhabitants of Plougastel-Daoulas are called plougastels in French.

Breton language

The municipality launched a linguistic plan concerning the Breton language through Ya d'ar brezhoneg on 28 October 2005.

In 2008, 18.98% of primary-school children attended bilingual schools.

Strawberries

The region is famous for its production of strawberries (gariguette de Plougastel). The New World species of strawberry, Fragaria chiloensis, which had been introduced into France by Amédée-François Frézier (1682–1773), flourished in the marine climate of Plougastel. Gardeners there had observed that this species bore abundant fruit when Fragaria moschata and Fragaria virginiana were planted in alternating rows with it. There had been failed attempts to cultivate fragaria chiloensis in Anjou, Touraine, and the lower-Loire areas.

Tourism

The Albert Louppe Bridge or Plougastel Bridge over the Elorn River is within the commune.

International relations

Plougastel is twinned with Westport, County Mayo, a town in the west of Ireland, and also with Saltash, a town in the south-east of Cornwall, United Kingdom.

Paintings depicting Plougastel-Daoulas

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">

File:Reims - musée des beaux-arts (09).JPG|Painting in the Musée des beaux-arts de Reims by Émile Wery titled "Retour d'école à Plougastel?"

File:Charles Cottet Jour de Fête-Dieu à Plougastel.jpg|"Jour de Fête-Dieu à Plougastel" by Charles Cottet held in the Musée Crozatier.

File:Emile Dezaunay Femmes de Plougastel au pardon.jpg|"Femmes de Plougastel au pardon" by Emile Dezaunay.

File:050 John Niemeyer L'arrivée des fiancés à Plougastel en 1914.JPG|Niemeyer's "L'arrivée des fiancés à Plougastel". This is held by the Musée de la Fraise in Plougastel-Daoulas.

</gallery>

Churches and chapels in Plougastel-Daoulas

Église Saint-Pierre

The parish church was damaged during the bombing of the 22 and 23 August 1944 and subsequently rebuilt. It contains a notable "rosary" altarpiece and a "mise au Tombeau" both from the old church. The chapelle Saint-Adrien dates to 1549 according to the inscription over the south porch.

The chapel contains many statues of saints.

The mystery of Plougastel

Not far from nearby Anse du Caro, a message is carved on a rock, beginning with "grocar drear diozeevbio", followed on by other writings in an unknown language. The text includes enigmatic drawings, such as a heart linked to a cross, and a sailboat close to the sea. Two numbers on the rock are decryptable: 1786 and 1787.

See also

  • Communes of the Finistère department
  • The calvary of Plougastel-Daoulas
  • Plougastel-Daoulas Parish Close
  • List of the works of the Maître de Plougastel
  • List of the works of the Maître de Thégonnec

References

  • Official website
  • Site sur Plougastel Daoulas
  • Musée de la fraise
  • La course du pont sur l'Elorn - May, 15 2010
  • G.M. Darrow, The Strawberry: History, Breeding and Physiology
  • Plougastel-Daoulas Cultural Heritage