Saint-Renan

Saint-Renan (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ ʁənɑ̃]; Breton: Lokournan, pronounced [loˈkurnãn]) is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.

Saint-Renan Lokournan
Commune
Two of the oldest buildings of downtown Saint-Renan in 2010.
Coat of arms
Location of Saint-Renan
Saint-Renan Saint-Renan
Coordinates: 48°25′54″N 4°37′14″W
Country	France
Region	Brittany
Department	Finistère
Arrondissement	Brest
Canton	Saint-Renan
Intercommunality	Pays d'Iroise
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Gilles Mounier
Area 1	13.31 km2 (5.14 sq mi)
Population  (2021)	8,358
• Density	630/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC 01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC 02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	29260 /29290
Elevation	26–97 m (85–318 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

History

The city is named after the Irish Saint Rónán who came in the 5th or 6th century to evangelize the area.

While Brest was still a village, the city of Saint-Renan developed throughout the Middle Ages. In 1276, the Duke of Brittany established one of the courts of justice there. Until the end of the 17th century, Saint-Renan was a "Sénéchaussée" (town of the seneschal), first ducal and then royal. Many of the buildings in the town center are from this period.

Population

Inhabitants of Saint-Renan are called Renanais in French.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 886 —     1800 908 0.35% 1806 841 −1.27% 1821 1,043 1.45% 1831 1,074 0.29% 1836 1,094 0.37% 1841 1,027 −1.26% 1846 1,010 −0.33% 1851 1,282 4.88% 1856 1,246 −0.57% 1861 1,241 −0.08% 1866 1,277 0.57%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1872 1,307 0.39% 1876 1,497 3.45% 1881 1,569 0.94% 1886 1,758 2.30% 1891 1,806 0.54% 1896 1,815 0.10% 1901 1,954 1.49% 1906 2,087 1.33% 1911 2,218 1.23% 1921 2,172 −0.21% 1926 2,158 −0.13% 1931 2,099 −0.55%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1936 2,188 0.83% 1946 2,860 2.71% 1954 2,682 −0.80% 1962 3,077 1.73% 1968 3,488 2.11% 1975 4,550 3.87% 1982 5,542 2.86% 1990 6,576 2.16% 1999 6,818 0.40% 2007 7,292 0.84% 2012 7,713 1.13% 2017 8,110 1.01%
Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968–2017)

Tourism

Old houses of 15th and 16th centuries are historical and architectural attractions.

Held every two years, the medieval festival of Saint-Renan, the biggest of the department, highlights the city's heritage.

The Saturday morning market – one of the biggest – is the opportunity to taste local products such as "kouign amann" (cake which name means "sugar and butter" in Breton language), Kig Ha Farz, mushrooms, crepes, cider, caramel, and chitterling sausages etc.

Six artificial lakes are part of the industrial heritage of the city, which was nicknamed "the European capital of tin" in the 1960s. The two largest, "Ty Colo" and "Comiren", are walking destinations.

The 17th-century church has undergone several transformations over time. Built on top of a hill, its bell tower is visible from a large part of the city. The churchyard contains a military area dedicated to British aviators from the Royal Air Force who died during the World War II.

Breton language

In 2016, 14% of primary-school children attended bilingual schools, where Breton is taught alongside French.

Notable natives and residents

• Nolwenn Leroy, singer and songwriter, who rose to fame after winning the second series of the French television reality show Star Academy.
• Benoît Hamon, politician, member of both the Socialist Party (“PS”), and the Party of European Socialists, candidate for the 2017 French Presidential Election.

See also

• Communes of the Finistère department

External links

• Official website (in French)
• Base Mérimée: Search for heritage in the commune, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
• Mayors of Finistère Association (in French)