Pays Bigouden
Encyclopedia
Bigouden is an area of Finistère
in Brittany
, south-west of Quimper. The designation was an informal label taken from the name of the distinctive headdress traditionally worn by the local women, but has since been formalised within the administration and promotion of the region.
, Pont-l'Abbé
and Plogastel-Saint-Germain
. Its capital is Pont-l'Abbé
. The Bigouden is currently divided into two communities of communes: Communauté de communes du Pays Bigouden Sud and Communauté de communes du Haut Pays Bigouden:
During the nineteenth century local costumes became increasingly elaborate and colourful. Especially famous was the tall lace bonnet worn by the women, which covered only the top of the skull and extended to a triangle of fabric mounted on a base. These were embroidered with patterns of flowers. By around 1900 this had evolved into a tall sugarloaf shape. In the early twentieth century the cap became even taller, reaching fifteen to twenty centimeters in the late 1920s and even taller just after the Second World War. Until 2000, the cap has hovered between 30 and 35 centimeters in height by 12-14 centimeters wide at the base. René Quillivic
's statue La Bigoudène at Pors-Poulhan depicts a woman wearing the headdress. It marks the border between Pays Bigouden and Cap Sizun
. Pêr-Jakez Helias
, a major Breton writer of the 20th century, was from the Bigouden.
s, representing the twenty Bigoudène communes (formerly 22). The golden colour represents the art of gold embroidery, which once dominated the region. The three orange stripes on the right recall the three cantons of the area.
Finistère
Finistère is a département of France, in the extreme west of Brittany.-History:The name Finistère derives from the Latin Finis Terræ, meaning end of the earth, and may be compared with Land's End on the opposite side of the English Channel...
in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, south-west of Quimper. The designation was an informal label taken from the name of the distinctive headdress traditionally worn by the local women, but has since been formalised within the administration and promotion of the region.
Geography
This traditional area constitutes a grouping of three cantons: GuilvinecGuilvinec
Guilvinec or Le Guilvinec is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Guilvinec are called in FrenchGuilvinistes.-Breton language:...
, Pont-l'Abbé
Pont-l'Abbé
Pont-l'Abbé is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.The self-styled capital of Pays Bigouden , 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...
and Plogastel-Saint-Germain
Plogastel-Saint-Germain
Plogastel-Saint-Germain is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Plogastel-Saint-Germain are called in FrenchPlogastellois.-References:** -External links:* *...
. Its capital is Pont-l'Abbé
Pont-l'Abbé
Pont-l'Abbé is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.The self-styled capital of Pays Bigouden , 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 Bigouden is currently divided into two communities of communes: Communauté de communes du Pays Bigouden Sud and Communauté de communes du Haut Pays Bigouden:
|
|
|
Cultural distinctiveness
The distinctive customs and costumes of the area have attracted artists and ethnologists since the late eighteenth century, leading to some idiosyncratic theories such as the claim that the locals descended from pre-Celtic aboriginal inhabitants of Brittany or that "physiognomic similarities" to Mongolians indicate descent from an ancient Asian race.During the nineteenth century local costumes became increasingly elaborate and colourful. Especially famous was the tall lace bonnet worn by the women, which covered only the top of the skull and extended to a triangle of fabric mounted on a base. These were embroidered with patterns of flowers. By around 1900 this had evolved into a tall sugarloaf shape. In the early twentieth century the cap became even taller, reaching fifteen to twenty centimeters in the late 1920s and even taller just after the Second World War. Until 2000, the cap has hovered between 30 and 35 centimeters in height by 12-14 centimeters wide at the base. René Quillivic
René Quillivic
René Quillivic was a French sculptor whose art expressed Breton cultural identity.-Life:René Quillivic was born on the 13th May 1879 in the town of Plouhinec, Finistère, in a small house bordering one side of what is currently known as the "Place Jean Cosquer". He came from a family of fishermen,...
's statue La Bigoudène at Pors-Poulhan depicts a woman wearing the headdress. It marks the border between Pays Bigouden and Cap Sizun
Cap Sizun
The Cap Sizun is a headland forming the western extremity of the Cornouaille, in the French département of Finistère in Brittany, corresponding to the canton of Pont-Croix....
. Pêr-Jakez Helias
Pêr-Jakez Helias
Pêr-Jakez Helias, baptised Pierre-Jacques Hélias, nom de plume Pierre-Jakez Hélias was a Breton stage actor, journalist, author, poet, and writer for radio who worked in the French and Breton languages....
, a major Breton writer of the 20th century, was from the Bigouden.
Flag
A flag of the Bigouden was created in 1992 as part of the local promotion of the area. It was designed by Bernard Le Brun at the request of the Association de Promotion du Pays bigouden. It comprises three parts. The left includes heraldic ermineErmine (heraldry)
Ermine is a heraldic fur representing the winter coat of the stoat . Many skins would be sewn together to make a luxurious garment, producing a pattern of small black spots on a white field...
s, representing the twenty Bigoudène communes (formerly 22). The golden colour represents the art of gold embroidery, which once dominated the region. The three orange stripes on the right recall the three cantons of the area.