Page 131 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

NOR THERN FINISTÈRE  129

scenes of terror that occurred in a simpleton named Salaün. He
the town in 1793, when many lived near a spring on the edge
local peasants resisted con­ of the wood near Lesneven, and
scription to the revolution ary would tirelessly repeat the
cause and were massacred by words “Ave Maria”. The villagers
Republican soldiers. nick named him fol goad (mad­
The museum also has a man of the woods). One day,
number of costumes of the 1830s in 1358, Salaün was found dead
on display, including a red silk near the spring. Some time later,
The Pontusval lighthouse, skirt, an embroidered apron and a lily sprouted on his neglected
near Brignogan a gold­embroidered bodice (see grave; it bore two words in
pp32–3), a feast­day outfit that golden letters: Ave Maria.
Environs would be worn, with a square The story of this miracle
Keremma, 3 km (2 miles) east coiffe, by the women of Kerlouan. was broadcast throughout
of Goulven, is one of the most the duchy. Jean V, Duke of
scenic places on the coast of E Musée du Léon Brittany, and the duchy’s
the Léon. It has a long string Place des 3 Piliers. Tel (02) 29 61 13 60. noble families then financed
of dunes created in 1823 by one Open Jul–Aug: Mon–Sat, Sun am; the building of a chapel in
Louis Rousseau (1787–1856). Sep–Jun: Mon, Tue pm, Wed–Sat. & Le Folgoët. This is the imposing
With his wife Emma, Rousseau Basilique Notre-Dame (1422–
purchased the marshy Plaine de 60). One of the most illustrious
Tréflez. Having installed a dyke places of pilgrimage in Brittany,
and drained the land, he built 0 Le Folgoët it has a delicate kersanton
over 80 farms and villas. This Road map B2. 20 km (13 miles) (granite) rood screen and a
newly created polder (see p77) north of Brest via the D788. * 3,094. small museum.
increased the agricultural land @ Brest. _ Grand Pardon (first
of the parish by a quarter. weekend in Sep). R Basilique Notre-Dame
Louis Rousseau’s descendants, Place de l’Eglise. Tel (02) 98 21 11 18.
who still come to spend the The name of this small town – Open 8:30am–8:30pm daily. 8 Jul–
summer here, have entrusted “Fool’s Wood” – has its origins in Aug. Museum: Open Apr–Sep, or for
the dunes to the Conservatoire a strange story. There was once groups by appointment at other times.
du Littoral, a conservation body.
The coastal resort of
Brignogan, 5 km (3 miles)
further north, has a beautiful
white sandy beach (below the
Pontusval lighthouse) and a
men marz, 8.5 m (28 ft) high,
one of a small number of
Christianized menhirs.

9 Lesneven
Road map B2. 22 km (13.5 miles)
north of Brest on the D788. * 6,920.
@ Brest or Landerneau. n Place des
3 Piliers; (02) 29 61 13 60. ( Mon.
∑ tourisme-lesneven-
cotedeslegendes.fr
Apart from some old houses –
at No. 21 Place du Général­Le­
Flô and No. 1 Rue du Comte­
Even – the main focus of
interest in Lesneven is the
Musée du Léon, housed in a
former Ursuline convent.
The collection traces local
history from prehistoric times
to the present day. Until the
Revolution, the parish was
the seat of the seneschalsy
(stewardship) of Léon. One
exhibit docu ments the frightful Basilique Notre-Dame, in Folgoët

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