Overview of the economy of Cornouaille

Presentation

Cornouaille (in the sense of the registration area for the CCI Quimper Cornouaille or the district of Quimper) comprises 296,012 inhabitants for a total surface area of 2,201.9 square kilometres, i.e. 35% of the population of Finistère. It measures 100 km from east to west and 40 km from north to south, with over 300 km of coastline, a quarter of which are estuaries (Aven, Belon, Odet). Cornouaille's strong maritime vocation is also represented by its 7 fishing ports of Audierne, Concarneau, Douarnenez, Le Guilvinec, Lesconil, Loctudy and Penmarc'h.

South Finistère is 70 km from the cities of Lorient and Brest and has good road communications thanks to the RN165 dual-carriageway. The towns of Quimper, Rosporden and Quimperlé have railway stations served by the TGV Atlantique and Quimper-Cornouaille airport is situated at Pluguffan (more than 140 000 passengers in 2001).

The district of Quimper is sub-divided into 8 rural districts and an urban district (Quimper).

Key to map:
Rural districts
Urban district

The town of Quimper plays a vital role in the Cornouaille area in terms of employment, businesses, public and culltural services. A network of medium-sized towns surround the capital of Cornouaille. These include Concarneau (pop.19,453), Douarnenez (pop.15,827), Quimperlé (pop.10,850), Fouesnant (pop.8,076), Pont L'Abbé (pop.7,849 ), Rosporden (pop.6,441).

The 1999 census revealed that the working population of Cornouaille in employment was 111,230 which is 3,700 more than in 1990. The 6 main employment centres are Quimper with 38,460 jobs, Concarneau (8,360 jobs), Quimperlé (7,660 jobs), Douarnenez (6,810 jobs) et Pont L'Abbé (3,570 jobs). A large majority of local residents fill the posts offered in these areas. Only the towns which border Morbihan have a large proportion of residents who work in the area of Lorient.

68% of employees work in the trade and services sector, 19% work in industry, 7% in agriculture and 6% in construction.

Cornouaille has a strong natural and cultural environment which comprises:

			Museums and art galleries including Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée breton, Musée de la faïence, Musée de la pêche.
			Manor houses and châteaux such as Kernault, Kerazan.
			Festivals including the Festival de Cornouaille, Filets Bleus, Fête des Brodeuses.
			- Designated heritage sites such as Locronan, Quimper, Pont-Croix, etc.

The CCI QUIMPER CORNOUAILLE, created in 1882, covers the area of Cornouaille with the exception of the northern part (the rural district of Chateaulin and Porzay).

Key to map:
The CCI QUIMPER CORNOUAILLE within the Cornouaille area where Cornouaille is defined within the framework of town-planning requirements (" Loi d'Orientation pour l'Aménagement et le Développement durable du Territoire (LOADT))
Pays de Cornouaille
Registration area of the CCI QUIMPER CORNOUAILLE