Lesneven


Lesneven is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.
It lies northeast of Brest, about from the English Channel in the middle of the Leon plateau.

History

Lesneven has its origins in the immigration from southwest Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries, and the name means "court of Even" in Common Brittonic after an alleged military leader of that period. Lesneven was the castle-town controlling Léon during the Middle Ages. The castle is now gone, but many buildings of the 15th-18th centuries are still to be found in the centre. The Museum of Léon is here. The town now functions as a market and service centre for the surrounding rural district.

Population

Inhabitants of Lesneven are known in French as Lesneviens.

Breton language

The municipality launched a linguistic plan concerning the Breton language through Ya d'ar brezhoneg 18 July 2007.
In 2008, 19.08% of primary-school children attended bilingual schools.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Lesneven is twinned with: