Châteaulin (French: [ʃɑtolɛ̃] ; Breton: Kastellin) is a commune in the Finistère department and administrative region of Brittany in north-western France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.

Châteaulin
Kastellin (Breton)
Châteaulin and the Aulne
Châteaulin and the Aulne
Coat of arms of Châteaulin
Location of Châteaulin
Map
Châteaulin is located in France
Châteaulin
Châteaulin
Châteaulin is located in Brittany
Châteaulin
Châteaulin
Coordinates: 48°11′51″N 4°05′19″W / 48.1975°N 4.0886°W / 48.1975; -4.0886
CountryFrance
RegionBrittany
DepartmentFinistère
ArrondissementChâteaulin
CantonCrozon
IntercommunalityPleyben-Châteaulin-Porzay
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Gaëlle Nicolas[1]
Area
1
20.81 km2 (8.03 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
5,144
 • Density250/km2 (640/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
29026 /29150
Elevation2–206 m (6.6–675.9 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

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Châteaulin is in a valley towards the center of Finistère on the River Aulne and the Canal de Nantes à Brest, mid-way between Quimper to the south and Brest to the north. To the west the Menez-Hom hills separate it from the Crozon peninsula and the Bay of Douarnenez, which opens into the Atlantic Ocean.

Population

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In French the inhabitants of Châteaulin are known as Châteaulinois.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 2,514—    
1800 3,172+3.38%
1806 3,161−0.06%
1821 2,426−1.75%
1831 2,783+1.38%
1836 2,968+1.30%
1841 2,548−3.01%
1846 2,790+1.83%
1851 2,849+0.42%
1856 2,852+0.02%
1861 2,892+0.28%
1866 3,259+2.42%
1872 3,339+0.41%
1876 3,436+0.72%
1881 3,462+0.15%
1886 3,656+1.10%
1891 3,677+0.11%
1896 3,857+0.96%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901 3,874+0.09%
1906 4,237+1.81%
1911 4,271+0.16%
1921 4,005−0.64%
1926 3,766−1.22%
1931 3,615−0.82%
1936 3,702+0.48%
1946 3,954+0.66%
1954 3,958+0.01%
1962 4,096+0.43%
1968 4,370+1.09%
1975 4,711+1.08%
1982 5,357+1.85%
1990 4,965−0.95%
1999 5,157+0.42%
2007 5,298+0.34%
2012 5,181−0.45%
2017 5,214+0.13%
Source: EHESS[3] and INSEE (1968-2017)[4]

Breton language

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In 2008 1.96% of primary-school children attended bilingual schools.[5]

Economy

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Châteaulin's economy is based on food processing (salmon and poultry) and, to an ever-greater extent, tourism. The Gendarmerie school on the outskirts of the town provides for a large number of families and the many recruits passing through the school provide the economic backbone of the town's night-life. The cake shop Histoire de Macaron is famous for its tasty and wide range of macaroons as well as the Java, created in 1907 by Mister Le Meur, which is a legend in the town.

Personalities

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International relations

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Châteaulin is twinned with:

See also

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Morning fog over the Aulne river

References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Châteaulin, EHESS (in French).
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  5. ^ (in French) Ofis ar Brezhoneg: Enseignement bilingue
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