Editing Brest, France

{{short description|Subprefecture and commune in Brittany, France}}
{{other uses|Brest (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox French commune
| name                    = Brest
| commune status          = [[Subprefectures in France|Subprefecture]] and [[Communes of France|commune]]
| image                   = Brest - Le Château - PA00089847 - 011.JPG
| caption                 = A view of the [[Tour Tanguy]] with the [[Château de Brest]] in the background
| image flag              = Brest flag.svg
| image coat of arms      = Armoiries de Brest.svg
| coordinates             = {{coord|48.39|-4.49|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| arrondissement          = Brest
|canton                   = [[Canton of Brest-1|Brest-1]], [[Canton of Brest-2|2]], [[Canton of Brest-3|3]], [[Canton of Brest-4|4]] and [[Canton of Brest-5|5]]
| INSEE                   = 29019
| postal code             = 29200
| mayor                   = François Cuillandre<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|website=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=2 December 2020|language=fr}}</ref>
| term                    = 2020&ndash;2026
| party                   = [[Socialist Party (France)|PS]]
| intercommunality        = [[Brest Métropole]]
| elevation m             = 34
| elevation min m         = 0
| elevation max m         = 103
| area km2                = 49.51
| population              = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
| population date         = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population footnotes    = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
| website                 = {{url|brest.fr/}}
|population demonym=''Brestois'' (masculine)<br>''Brestoise'' (feminine)}}

'''Brest''' ({{IPA|fr|bʁɛst|-|Fr-Brest.ogg}};<ref>{{citation|last=Wells|first=John C.|year=2008|title=Longman Pronunciation Dictionary|edition=3rd|publisher=Longman|isbn=9781405881180}}</ref> {{IPA|br|bʀest|[[Breton language|Breton]]:}}<ref>''Nouvel atlas linguistique de la Basse-Bretagne'', 2001, Volume 1, map 6.</ref>) is a [[port|port city]] in the [[Finistère]] department, [[Brittany (administrative region)|Brittany]]. Located in a sheltered bay not far from the western tip of a [[peninsula]] and the western extremity of [[metropolitan France]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/brest-sailing-les-tonnerres-travel/index.html |work=CNN Travel |title=Brest, France: What to see and do|author=Stina Backer |date=31 March 2018}}</ref> Brest is an important harbour and the second largest French military port after [[Toulon]]. The city is located on the western edge of continental France. With 139,456 inhabitants (2020),<ref name=pophist/> Brest forms [[Lower Brittany|Western Brittany]]'s largest [[functional area (France)|metropolitan area]] (with a population of 370,000 in total), ranking third behind only [[Nantes]] and [[Rennes]] in the whole of historic Brittany, and the [[List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants|25th most populous city in France (2019)]]; moreover, Brest provides services to the one million inhabitants of Western Brittany.<ref>[http://www.brest.fr/mediatheque-du-site/videotheque/voir-des-videos/h/42b0c2d476/video/27/back/128/scatvideo/3.html Brest.fr – Brest perspectives ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703045809/http://www.brest.fr/mediatheque-du-site/videotheque/voir-des-videos/h/42b0c2d476/video/27/back/128/scatvideo/3.html |date=3 July 2011}}</ref> Although Brest is by far the largest city in Finistère, the ''[[Prefectures in France|préfecture]]'' (administrative seat) of the department is in the much smaller town of [[Quimper, Finistère|Quimper]].

During the [[Middle Ages]], the history of Brest was the history of its [[Château de Brest|castle]]. Then [[Cardinal Richelieu|Richelieu]] made it a [[Naval base|military harbour]] in 1631.<ref name="Britannica"/> Brest grew around its [[Brest Arsenal|arsenal]] until the second part of the 20th century. Heavily damaged by the Allies' bombing raids during World War II, the city centre was completely rebuilt after the war.<ref name="BrestCelticHill"/> At the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, the deindustrialization of the city was followed by the development of the [[tertiary sector of the economy|service sector]]. Nowadays, Brest is an important [[College town|university town]] with 23,000 students.<ref>{{cite web |author=Gaële MALGORN |url=http://www.participation-brest.net/article1533.html |title=Brest accueille ses 23 000 étudiants |publisher=Participation Brest |date=22 February 1999 |access-date=6 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718072344/http://www.participation-brest.net/article1533.html |archive-date=18 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Besides a multidisciplinary university, the [[University of Western Brittany]], Brest and its surrounding area possess several prestigious French elite schools such as ''[[École Navale]]'' (the French Naval Academy), ''[[École nationale supérieure des télécommunications de Bretagne|Télécom Bretagne]]'' and the [[École nationale supérieure de techniques avancées de Bretagne|Superior National School of Advanced Techniques of Brittany]] (ENSTA Bretagne, formerly ENSIETA). Brest is also an important research centre, mainly focused on the sea, with among others the largest [[Ifremer]] (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea) centre, ''le Cedre'' (Centre of Documentation, Research and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution) and the French Polar Institute.

Brest's history has since the 17th century been linked to the sea: the ''[[Académie de Marine]]'' (Naval Academy) was founded in 1752 in this city. The aircraft carrier {{ship|French aircraft carrier|Charles de Gaulle||2}} was built there. Every four years, Brest hosts the international festival of the sea, boats and sailors: it is a meeting of old [[rigging]]s from around the world (''[[Brest Maritime Festival#2012 edition|Les Tonnerres de Brest]]'').

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Brest, France}}
[[File:Carte de Brest - ca 1700 - Bibliothèque Nationale de France - Btv1b8439976x.jpg|thumb|left|Brest in {{Circa|1700}}]]
[[File:Vue du port de Brest.jpg|thumb|left|Painting of Brest harbour ([[Jean-François Hue]], 1793)]]

The name of the town is first recorded as ''Bresta''; it may derive from *''brigs'', a [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] word for "hill".<ref name="BrestCelticHill">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f899xH_quaMC&pg=PA247 | title=Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia | volume=1 | editor-first=John T. | editor-last=Koch | page=247 | date=2006 | publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] | location=[[Santa Barbara, California]] | isbn=1-85109-440-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/brest |title=Brest |work=Online Etymology Dictionary |access-date=9 July 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021020945/http://www.etymonline.com:80/word/Brest |archive-date=21 October 2017}}</ref>

Nothing definite is known of Brest before about 1240,{{Dubious|date=August 2011}} when [[Harvey V, Lord of Léon]] ceded it to [[John I, Duke of Brittany]]. In 1342 [[John IV, Duke of Brittany]] surrendered Brest to the English, in whose possession it was to remain until 1397.<ref name="Britannica">{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Brest-France |title=Brest, France |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref> This was strategically important to the English as it helped protect their communication with [[Gascony]].<ref name="Rodger 2004">{{cite book |last1=Rodger |first1=N.A.M. |title=The Safeguard of the Sea. A Naval History of Britain 660-1649 |date=2004 |publisher=Penguin Books Ltd. |location=London |isbn=978-0-14-191257-8}}</ref>{{rp|page=102}} The importance of Brest in [[medieval]] times was great enough to give rise to the saying, "He is not the Duke of Brittany who is not the Lord of Brest." With the marriage of [[Francis I of France]] to [[Claude of France|Claude]], the daughter of [[Anne of Brittany]], the definitive overlordship of Brest – together with the rest of the duchy – passed to the [[French crown]] in 1491.<ref name="Britannica"/>

The advantages of Brest's situation as a seaport town were first recognized by [[Cardinal Richelieu]], who in 1631 constructed a harbour with wooden [[wharf|wharves]]. This soon became a base for the [[French Navy]]. [[Jean-Baptiste Colbert]], finance minister under [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]], rebuilt the wharves in masonry and otherwise improved the harbour. Fortifications by [[Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban|Vauban]] (1633–1707) followed in 1680–1688. These fortifications, and with them the naval importance of the town, were to continue to develop throughout the 18th century.

In 1694, an Anglo-Dutch squadron under [[John Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley of Stratton|Lord Berkeley]] was soundly defeated in its [[attack on Brest]].

During the [[repression of January and February 1894]], the gendarmes conducted raids targeting the [[Anarchism|anarchists]] living there, without much success.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=3 January 1894 |title=Les anarchistes |trans-title=The anarchists |work=La Dépêche |pages=2}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |date=2 January 1894 |title=Deux mille perquisitions |journal=L'Estafette |pages=2}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=3 January 1894 |title=Une série générale de perquisitions : résultat négatif des recherches |trans-title=A general series of raids: negative results |work=L'Éclair}}</ref> They notably surrounded the house of [[Régis Meunier]] with their bayonnets fixed.<ref name=":12">{{Cite news |date=3 January 1894 |title=Les anarchistes |trans-title=The anarchists |work=La Dépêche |pages=2}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite journal |date=2 January 1894 |title=Deux mille perquisitions |journal=L'Estafette |pages=2}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite news |date=3 January 1894 |title=Une série générale de perquisitions : résultat négatif des recherches |trans-title=A general series of raids: negative results |work=L'Éclair}}</ref>

[[File:1858 Gustave Le Gray la batterie Royale à Brest.jpg|thumb|[[Gustave Le Gray]]: la batterie Royale à Brest, 1858]]

In 1917, during the [[First World War]], Brest was used as the disembarking port for many of the troops coming from the United States. Thousands of such men came through the port on their way to the front lines. The [[United States Navy]] established a [[naval air station]] on 13 February 1918 to operate [[seaplane]]s. The base closed shortly after the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918]].<ref name=nan>{{cite book |last=Van Wyen |first=Adrian O. |title =Naval Aviation in World War I |url=https://archive.org/details/navalaviationinw00wash |publisher =Chief of Naval Operations |date =1969 |location =Washington, D.C. |page =[https://archive.org/details/navalaviationinw00wash/page/65 65]}}</ref>
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101II-MW-1019-07, Frankreich, Brest, Soldatenbordell.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|German soldiers entering a ''Soldatenbordell'' in Brest, France (1940). The building is a former [[synagogue]].]]

In the [[Second World War]], the [[Nazi Germany|Germans]] maintained a large [[U-boat]] [[submarine]] base at Brest. Despite being within range of RAF bombers, it was also a base for some of the German surface fleet, giving repair facilities and direct access to the Atlantic Ocean. For much of 1941, {{ship|German battleship|Scharnhorst||2}}, {{ship|German battleship|Gneisenau||2}} and {{ship|German cruiser|Prinz Eugen||2}} were under repair in the dockyards. The repair yard facilities for both submarines and surface vessels were staffed by both German and French workers, with the latter forming the major part of the workforce; huge reliance was made on this French component.{{efn|For example, by February 1941 only 470 German shipyard workers had arrived at Brest, whilst the Naval Arsenal had 6,349 French workers. Though work on capital ships was generally done by Germans, French employees worked extensively on submarines and the smaller military vessels in the surface fleet. German Navy reports indicate that this was a willing workforce and that there were no incidences of sabotage. As well as working on ship repairs, the French provided a significant fire-fighting force to help negate the effect of Allied air raids. This story is balanced by Resistance activity, such as that of Jean Philippon, a French Naval Lieutenant Commander who provided important ship movement intelligence to the Allies for more than a year. This espionage was a key component in the effectiveness of Allied air raids which ultimately led to the [[Channel Dash|removal of German capital ships to safer bases]].}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hellwinkel|first1=Lars|title=Hitler's Gateway to the Atlantic: German Naval Bases in France 1940–1945|date=2014|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|pages=Kindle location 1151–1369|edition=Kindle}}</ref>

In 1944, after the Allied [[invasion of Normandy]], the city was almost totally destroyed during the [[Battle for Brest]], with only a tiny number of buildings left standing. After the war, the [[West Germany|West German]] government paid several billion [[Deutschmark]]s in [[war reparations|reparations]] to the homeless and destitute civilians of Brest in compensation for the destruction of their city. Large parts of today's rebuilt city consist of utilitarian [[granite]] and concrete buildings. The French naval base now houses the [[Brest Naval Training Centre]].

During the postwar [[Nuremberg Trials]], a memorandum of German admiral and {{lang|de|[[Seekriegsleitung]]}} chief of staff [[Kurt Fricke]] from 1940 was given in evidence which suggested that the town should serve as a German enclave after the war.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nizkor.org/hweb/imt/tgmwc/tgmwc-02/tgmwc-02-15-03.shtml |title=The Nizkor Project – Nuremberg Trials transcript |access-date=20 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126103200/http://nizkor.org/hweb/imt/tgmwc/tgmwc-02/tgmwc-02-15-03.shtml |archive-date=26 January 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1972, the French Navy opened its [[nuclear weapon]]-submarine (deterrence) base at [[Île Longue]] in the ''Rade de Brest'' (Brest [[roadstead]]). This continues to be an important base for the French nuclear-armed [[ballistic missile]] submarines.

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] of Brest is divided in two: to the left, there's the [[Coat of arms of France|three fleurs-de-lis of the former kingdom of France]], and to the right it has the [[Ermine (heraldry)|ermines]] of the [[Duchy of Brittany]]. These arms were used for the first time in a register of deliberations of the city council dated the 15 July 1683{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}. Additionally, it looks visually identical to the coat of arms of [[Bourg-la-Reine]].

==Sights==
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2020}}
[[File:Rue de Siam.jpg|thumb|''[[Rue de Siam]]'' (Siam Street) in 2006]]

''[[Pont de Recouvrance]]'' (Recouvrance Bridge, is a massive drawbridge 64 m/210&nbsp;ft high), the [[arsenal de Brest|military arsenal]] and the [[Rue de Siam|''rue de Siam'' (Siam Street)]] are other sights. The [[Brest Castle|castle]] and the [[Tour Tanguy|Tanguy tower]] are the oldest monuments of Brest.

The ''Musée de la Tour Tanguy'', in the Tanguy tower, houses a collection of [[diorama]]s that depict the city of Brest on the eve of World War II. The ''[[Musée national de la Marine]] de Brest'', housed in the ancient castle, contains exhibits which outline Brest's maritime tradition, as well as an aquarium, the Océanopolis marine centre. The city also has a notable [[botanical garden]] specializing in [[endangered species]], the ''[[Conservatoire botanique national de Brest]]'', as well as the ''[[Jardin botanique de l'Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Clermont-Tonnerre]]''.

The city of Brest does not have much remaining historical architecture, apart from a few select monuments such as the castle and the Tanguy tower. This is due to heavy bombing by the Allies during World War II, in an attempt to destroy the [[submarine base]] the Germans had built in the harbour. In the 1950s, the town was hastily rebuilt using a large amount of concrete. In [[Recouvrance, Brest|Recouvrance]], the west bank of the town, there remains an authentic street of the 17th century, Saint-Malo Street.

A few kilometres out of town, there are landscapes, from sandy beaches to [[grotto]]s to tall [[granite]] cliffs. [[Sunbathing]], [[windsurfing]], [[yachting]] and fishing are enjoyed in the area. Brest was an important warship-producing port during the [[Napoleonic wars]]. The naval port, which is in great part excavated in the rock, extends along both banks of the [[Penfeld]] river.

<gallery>
File:Brest.jpg|The [[Tour Tanguy|Tanguy tower]] hosts a museum of the history of Brest; in the background, the ''[[Pont de Recouvrance]]'' (Recouvrance Bridge).
File:Brest chateau.jpg|[[Château de Brest|The castle]] hosts the ''[[Musée national de la Marine]]'' (National Navy Museum).
File:Stangalar2.JPG|The ''[[Conservatoire botanique national de Brest|conservatoire botanique national]]'' in autumn
File:Saint-Sauveur-clocher.jpg|[[Saint-Sauveur Church in Brest|Saint-Sauveur church]] in [[Recouvrance (Brest)|Recouvrance]], designed by [[Amédée-François Frézier]], the oldest church of Brest, built in 1750<ref>Jean-Louis Auffret, ''Brest d'hier à demain'', Éditions Cloître, March 2002, Saint-Thonan France, {{ISBN|2-910981-65-7}}, page 25</ref>
File:Place liberté2 800x600.JPG|Monumental perspective from the ''Place de la Liberté'' opening to the ''[[rue de Siam]]'' (Siam Street), with the ''[[rade de Brest]]'' (Brest [[roadstead]]) in the background, and on the right, the steeple of Saint-Louis church dominating the rebuilt centre of Brest
</gallery>

==Geography==
[[File:Topographie de brest.jpg|200px|thumb|Topography of Brest]]
[[File:Brest.png|thumb|left|Brest and the surrounding area]]
Brest is located amidst a dramatic landscape near the entrance of the natural ''[[rade de Brest]]'' (Brest roadstead), at the west end of Brittany.

It is situated to the north of a magnificent landlocked bay, and occupies the slopes of two hills divided by the river Penfeld. The part of the town on the left bank is regarded as Brest proper, while the part on the right is known as [[Recouvrance, Brest|Recouvrance]]. There are also extensive suburbs to the east of the town. The hillsides are in some places so steep that the ascent from the lower to the upper town has to be effected by flights of steps and the second or third storey of one house is often on a level with the ground storey of the next.

===Climate===
Brest experiences an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb''). As a result of maritime moderation, Brest has cool summers by French standards, July afternoons are cooler than the norm in Western Europe. Rainfall is common year-round, but snowfall is a rarer occurrence since temperatures usually remain several degrees above freezing during winter nights.

An extreme temperature of {{convert|39.3|C|F}} was recorded on [[2022 European heat waves|18 July 2022]].

{{Weather box
|location = Brest <small>([[Brest Bretagne Airport|Bretagne Airport]], altitude 94m, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1855–present)</small>
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 16.8
|Feb record high C = 20.7
|Mar record high C = 25.0
|Apr record high C = 28.2
|May record high C = 30.6
|Jun record high C = 34.3
|Jul record high C = 39.3
|Aug record high C = 35.1
|Sep record high C = 35.0
|Oct record high C = 28.2
|Nov record high C = 22.4
|Dec record high C = 19.0
|year record high C = 39.3
|Jan avg record high C = 13.1
|Feb avg record high C = 14.1
|Mar avg record high C = 17.9
|Apr avg record high C = 20.9
|May avg record high C = 24.3
|Jun avg record high C = 27.7
|Jul avg record high C = 27.6
|Aug avg record high C = 27.2
|Sep avg record high C = 25.4
|Oct avg record high C = 20.6
|Nov avg record high C = 16.8
|Dec avg record high C = 13.7
|year avg record high C = 29.8
|Jan high C = 9.7
|Feb high C = 10.0
|Mar high C = 11.9
|Apr high C = 13.9
|May high C = 16.8
|Jun high C = 19.1
|Jul high C = 20.8
|Aug high C = 20.9
|Sep high C = 19.3
|Oct high C = 16.0
|Nov high C = 12.5
|Dec high C = 10.3
|year high C = 15.1
|Jan mean C = 7.1
|Feb mean C = 7.1
|Mar mean C = 8.6
|Apr mean C = 10.1
|May mean C = 12.8
|Jun mean C = 15.3
|Jul mean C = 17.0
|Aug mean C = 17.1
|Sep mean C = 15.4
|Oct mean C = 12.8
|Nov mean C = 9.8
|Dec mean C = 7.7
|year mean C = 11.7
|Jan low C = 4.6
|Feb low C = 4.3
|Mar low C = 5.4
|Apr low C = 6.3
|May low C = 8.9
|Jun low C = 11.4
|Jul low C = 13.1
|Aug low C = 13.2
|Sep low C = 11.5
|Oct low C = 9.6
|Nov low C = 7.0
|Dec low C = 5.0
|year low C = 8.4
|Jan avg record low C = -2.5
|Feb avg record low C = -2.0
|Mar avg record low C = -0.5
|Apr avg record low C = 0.8
|May avg record low C = 3.3
|Jun avg record low C = 6.6
|Jul avg record low C = 8.7
|Aug avg record low C = 8.3
|Sep avg record low C = 6.0
|Oct avg record low C = 3.2
|Nov avg record low C = 1.0
|Dec avg record low C = -2.1
|year avg record low C = -4.0
|Jan record low C = -14.0
|Feb record low C = -13.4
|Mar record low C = -4.9
|Apr record low C = -3.0
|May record low C = -0.8
|Jun record low C = 3.7
|Jul record low C = 6.0
|Aug record low C = 5.8
|Sep record low C = 3.3
|Oct record low C = -1.5
|Nov record low C = -6.6
|Dec record low C = -10.1
|year record low C = -14.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 142.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 118.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 82.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 91.8
|May precipitation mm = 74.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 64.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 70.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 75.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 78.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 129.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 146.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 154.6
|year precipitation mm = 1229.8
|unit precipitation days = 1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 18.0
|Feb precipitation days = 14.9
|Mar precipitation days = 13.2
|Apr precipitation days = 12.5
|May precipitation days = 10.3
|Jun precipitation days = 9.1
|Jul precipitation days = 10.6
|Aug precipitation days = 9.8
|Sep precipitation days = 10.1
|Oct precipitation days = 15.4
|Nov precipitation days = 17.9
|Dec precipitation days = 17.8
|year precipitation days = 159.5
|Jan snow days = 1.7
|Feb snow days = 2.8
|Mar snow days = 0.7
|Apr snow days = 0.3
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.5
|Dec snow days = 1.3
|year snow days = 7.3
|Jan humidity = 86
|Feb humidity = 84
|Mar humidity = 82
|Apr humidity = 81
|May humidity = 81
|Jun humidity = 83
|Jul humidity = 83
|Aug humidity = 83
|Sep humidity = 85
|Oct humidity = 86
|Nov humidity = 85
|Dec humidity = 86
|Jan sun = 61.2
|Feb sun = 81.7
|Mar sun = 122.2
|Apr sun = 165.4
|May sun = 187.5
|Jun sun = 183.9
|Jul sun = 180.1
|Aug sun = 171.8
|Sep sun = 158.4
|Oct sun = 109.0
|Nov sun = 72.3
|Dec sun = 61.2
|year sun = 1554.6
| Jan percentsun = 24.0
| Feb percentsun = 31.0
| Mar percentsun = 35.0
| Apr percentsun = 43.0
| May percentsun = 46.0
| Jun percentsun = 46.0
| Jul percentsun = 48.0
| Aug percentsun = 47.0
| Sep percentsun = 45.0
| Oct percentsun = 37.0
| Nov percentsun = 29.0
| Dec percentsun = 25.0
|source 1 = [[Meteo France]]<ref name=MFclimat1>{{cite web
| url = http://www.meteofrance.com/climat/france/station/29075001/normales
| title = Données climatiques de la station de Brest
| publisher = Meteo France
| language = fr
| access-date = 11 December 2014
| archive-date = 2 August 2019
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190802131809/http://www.meteofrance.com/climat/france/station/29075001/normales
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref name=MFclimat2>{{cite web
| url = http://www.meteofrance.com/climat/france/bretagne/regi53/normales
| title = Climat Bretagne
| publisher = Meteo France
| language = fr
| access-date = 11 December 2014
| archive-date = 2 August 2019
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190802131821/http://www.meteofrance.com/climat/france/bretagne/regi53/normales
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180310164340/https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_29075001.pdf
| archive-date = 10 March 2018
| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_29075001.pdf
| title = Brest–Guipavas (29)
| work = Fiche Climatologique: Statistiques 1981–2010 et records
| publisher = Meteo France
| language = fr
| access-date = 10 March 2018}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]] (percent sun 1961-1990),<ref name = noaa>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-VI/FR/07110.TXT
| title = Brest (07110) – WMO Weather Station
| access-date = 18 January 2019
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]}} [https://archive.org/details/19611990NormalsNOAABrest Archived] 18 January 2019, at the [[Wayback Machine]]</ref> Infoclimat.fr (humidity 1961-1990)<ref name=Infoclimat>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie-07110-brest-guipavas.html
 |title        = Normes et records 1961–1990: Brest-Guipavas (29) – altitude 94m
 |language     = fr
 |publisher    = Infoclimat.fr
 |access-date   = 11 December 2014
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20141008133221/http://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie-07110-brest-guipavas.html
 |archive-date = 8 October 2014
|url-status     = bot: unknown
 |df           = dmy-all
}} 8 October 2014, at the [[Wayback Machine]]</ref>
}}

==Population==

In 1945 Brest absorbed three neighbouring communes.<ref name=ehess/> The population data for 1936 and earlier in the table and graph below refer to the pre-1945 borders.
{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 2
| percentages = pagr
| source = EHESS<ref name=ehess>{{Cassini-Ehess|5761|Brest}}</ref> and INSEE (1968-2020)<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/7633058?geo=COM-29019#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
| graph-pos = bottom
|1793 |24180
|1800 |25865
|1806 |22130
|1821 |26361
|1831 |29860
|1836 |29773
|1841 |48225
|1846 |55820
|1851 |61160
|1856 |54665
|1861 |67833
|1866 |79847
|1872 |66270
|1876 |66828
|1881 |69110
|1886 |70778
|1891 |75854
|1896 |74538
|1901 |84284
|1906 |85294
|1911 |90540
|1921 |73960
|1926 |67861
|1931 |69841
|1936 |79342
|1946 |74991
|1954 |110713
|1962 |136104
|1968 |154023
|1975 |166826
|1982 |156060
|1990 |147956
|1999 |149634
|2009 |141315
|2014 |139384
|2020 |139456
}}

==Transport==
[[File:Aerogare Brest.jpg|thumb|left|[[Brest Bretagne Airport]], main airport of the [[Brittany (administrative region)|region of Brittany]]]]
[[File:Brest Harbour.jpg|thumb|The harbour of Brest]]

The railway station of Brest, [[Gare de Brest]], is linked to [[Gare de Rennes|Rennes]] and [[Gare Montparnasse|Paris]] and provides services to other stations in Brittany as well. [[TGV]] trains to Paris take approximately three hours and forty minutes to reach the capital.

A new 28-stop, {{convert|14.3|km|0|abbr=on}} [[Brest Tramway|tram line]] connecting Porte de Plouzané in the west with Porte de Gouesnou and Porte de Guipavas northeast of the city centre opened in June 2012.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Brest tramway opens|url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/brest-tramway-opens.html|date=26 June 2012|access-date=29 June 2012|magazine=[[Railway Gazette International]]|archive-date=29 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629033829/http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/brest-tramway-opens.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Brest international airport, [[Brest airport|Brest Bretagne Airport]], is mainly linked to Paris, London, [[Nice]], [[Lyon]], Dublin. The primary operator is [[Air France]] (via its subsidiary [[HOP!]]). Brest international airport is the main airport of the [[Brittany (administrative region)|region of Brittany]] in terms of passenger traffic with 45% of this traffic of the region, representing 919,404 passengers in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://brest.letelegramme.com/local/finistere-nord/brest/ville/port-et-aeroport-progressions-en-2010-08-01-2011-1168234.php |title=Le Télégramme – Brest ville – Port et aéroport de Brest. Progressions en 2010 |publisher=Brest.letelegramme.com |access-date=6 April 2011 |archive-date=12 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812214737/http://brest.letelegramme.com/local/finistere-nord/brest/ville/port-et-aeroport-progressions-en-2010-08-01-2011-1168234.php |url-status=dead}}</ref> A new terminal has been in service since 12 December 2007 and can accommodate up to 1.8&nbsp;million passengers annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airport.cci-brest.fr/en/aeroport/presentation.html |title=brest.aeroport.bzh/ » Environment |publisher=Airport.cci-brest.fr |date=4 August 2005 |access-date=6 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720210226/http://www.airport.cci-brest.fr/en/aeroport/presentation.html |archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref>

The harbour of Brest is mainly dedicated to [[Bulk cargo|bulk]], hydrocarbon and [[freight container]]s. The harbour's facilities can accommodate the largest modern ships. A cruise ship port is also located in Brest, near the city centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avidcruiser.com/port-profiles/europe/mediterranean/france/brest/ |title=Port of Call: Brittany's Brest |work=The Avid Cruiser |access-date=9 July 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007195436/http://www.avidcruiser.com:80/port-profiles/europe/mediterranean/france/brest/ |archive-date=7 October 2010}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Jeanne D Arc 4.jpg|thumb|The [[Penfeld]] river, historic centre of the arsenal of Brest]]

Due to its location, Brest is regarded as the first French port that can be accessed from the Americas. Shipping is big business, although [[Nantes]] and [[Saint-Nazaire]] offer much larger docks and attract more of the larger vessels. Brest has the ninth French commercial harbour including ship repairs and maintenance. The protected location of Brest means that its harbour is ideal to receive any type of ship, from the smallest [[dinghy]] to the biggest [[aircraft carrier]] ({{USS|Nimitz}} has visited a few times). Naval construction is also an important activity: for example, the {{ship|French aircraft carrier|Charles de Gaulle}} was built by [[Direction des Constructions Navales]] (DCN) in Brest.

Despite its image of an industrialised city whose activity depends mainly on military order, the [[tertiary sector of the economy|service sector]] represents 75% of the economic activity. The importance of the service sector is still increasing while industrialised activity is decaying, explaining the unchanged rate of working-class in Brest. Brest also hosts headquarters for many subsidiaries like the banking group Arkéa. Research and conception is taking an increasing importance. Brest claims to be the largest European centre for sciences and techniques linked to the sea: 60% of the French research in the maritime field is based in Brest.<ref>[http://www.cub-brest.fr/fr-investinbrest/documents/recherche.pdf Source: Invest in Brest, BMO] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122031447/http://www.cub-brest.fr/fr-investinbrest/documents/recherche.pdf |date=22 November 2008}}</ref>

Brest has a vast program, combining a restructuring of the city, up to 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/politique/au-conseil-de-brest-metropole-on-se-projette-pour-20-ans-0b73fdc8-37eb-11f0-9096-11e668431f68 |title=Au conseil de Brest métropole, « on se projette pour 20 ans » |work=Ouest-France |date=24 May 2025 |access-date=25 May 2025}}</ref>

==Administration==
[[File:Hotel de ville brest.JPG|thumb|The [[Hôtel de Ville, Brest|Hôtel de Ville]] (City Hall), ''place de la Liberté'']]
The [[Hôtel de Ville, Brest|Hôtel de Ville]] (City Hall) was officially opened in 1961.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.numista.com/catalogue/exonumia173962.html  |title=Medal – Ville de Brest|publisher=Numista|access-date=6 November 2024}}</ref>

=== Mayors ===
*since 2001: François Cuillandre
*1989–2001: [[Pierre Maille]] (2nd and 3rd terms)
*1985–1989: Georges Kerbrat
*1983–1985: Jacques Berthelot
*1982–1983: [[Pierre Maille]]
*1977–1982: Francis Le Blé
*1973–1977: Eugène Berest
*1959–1973: Georges Lombard
*1958–1959: Auguste Kervern
*1954–1958: Yves Jaouen
*1954–1954: Lucien Chaix
*1953–1954: Yves Jaouen
*1947–1953: [[Alfred Pierre Marie Chupin]]
*1945–1947: Jules Lullien
*1944–1945: Jules Lullien
*1942–1944: Victor Eusen
*1929–1941: Victor Le Gorgeu
*1921–1929: Léon Nardon
*1920–1921: Hippolyte Masson
*1919–1920: Louis Léon Nardon
*1912–1919: Hippolyte Masson
*1908–1912: Louis Arthur Delobeau
*1904–1908: Victor Marie Aubert
*1900–1904: Charles Berger

==Breton language==
[[Breton language|Breton]] is not commonly spoken in the city of Brest, which was the only French-speaking city in western Brittany before the 1789 [[French Revolution]], despite the surrounding countryside being fully Breton-speaking at that time. Like other [[Languages of France|French minority languages]], Breton does not have any official language status in France.

The municipality launched a linguistic plan to revive Breton as a language through ''[[Ya d'ar brezhoneg]]'' on 16 June 2006. In 2008, 1.94% of primary-school children attended French-Breton bilingual [[Diwan (school)|Diwan]] schools.<ref>{{in lang|fr}} ''Ofis ar Brezhoneg'': [http://www.ofis-bzh.org/fr/services/observatoire/travaux.php?travail_id=83 ''Enseignement bilingue'']</ref> Besides bilingual schools, the Breton language is also taught in some schools and universities.

The association ''Sked'' federates all Breton cultural activities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sked.bzh/ |title=[SKED&#93; Les nouveautés |publisher=Sked.infini.fr |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128075656/http://sked.infini.fr/ |archive-date=28 January 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Culture==
[[File:Bateaux-Brest2004.jpg|thumb|Sailboats during "Brest 2004"]]

The city is host to several events to celebrate its long maritime history. The largest of these is held every four years, when the town organises a [[tall ship]] meeting. The last such tall ship event was "Les Tonnerres de Brest 2016". Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] the next event is planned for 2022.

[[File:Vue_de_la_Rade_de_Brest_depuis_la_place_des_Machines%2C_au_sein_des_ateliers_des_Capucins.jpg|thumb|View of the [[Rade de Brest]] from the Place des Machines in the Capucins workshops]]
Brest also hosts an annual short film festival called "[[Brest European Short Film Festival]]". The city was the setting for the 1982 art film ''[[Querelle]]'', directed by [[Rainer Werner Fassbinder]], itself based on the 1947 novel ''[[Querelle of Brest|Querelle de Brest]]'' by [[Jean Genet]].

==Cuisine==
Brittany's most famous local delicacy, the [[Crêpe bretonne|Breton crêpe]], is the main culinary feature apart from seafood. There are many crêpe restaurants (called ''crêperies''). Breton apple [[cider]] is often featured.

Traditional biscuits include ''[[Traou Mad]]'', which is a full-fat butter biscuit similar to Scottish [[shortbread]].

==Sport==
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}
Brest has held the [[List of Tour de France Grands Départs|Grands Départs]] of the [[Tour de France]] on three occasions, in [[1952 Tour de France|1952]], [[1974 Tour de France|1974]] and [[2008 Tour de France|2008]]. The [[2021 Tour de France]] started from Brest on 26 June 2021. Stage 6 of the [[2018 Tour de France]] departed from Brest. Since 1901 Brest has served as the midpoint for the {{convert|1200|km|mi|abbr=on}} bicycle endurance event, [[Paris–Brest–Paris]].

Brest is home to [[Stade Brestois 29]], a [[Association football|football]] team in [[Ligue 1]]. the top tier of the [[French football league system]].

Brest is also home to [[Brest Albatros Hockey]], an ice hockey team in [[Ligue Magnus]], and won the league title in the [[1995–96 Élite Ligue season|1996]] and [[1996–97 Nationale 1A season|1997]].

In 2002 the Brest [[Throwball|throwball team]] Brest LC reached the 1st division of French throwball but were subsequently relegated due to financial difficulty. The club has recently adopted an Irish influenced infrastructure.{{ Clarify|reason=What does that mean?|date=December 2020}}

==Research and education==
[[File:Université de Bretagne Occidentale.jpg|thumb|''Université de Bretagne Occidentale'' ([[University of Western Brittany]])]]

Primarily the research centre of western Brittany, Brest and its surrounding area is the home of several research and elite educational establishments:

* a multidisciplinary university, ''[[University of Western Brittany|Université de Bretagne Occidentale]]'' (UBO) [https://www.univ-brest.fr/]
* Brest has also several ''[[grandes écoles]]'' and other undergraduate or graduate schools:
** ''[[École nationale d'ingénieurs de Brest]]'' (ENIB) (in [[Plouzané]] next to Brest) [https://www.enib.fr/en/]
** ''[[École nationale supérieure des télécommunications de Bretagne|Télécom Bretagne]]'' (ENST Bretagne) (in [[Plouzané]] next to Brest) [https://www.imt-atlantique.fr/en]
** ''[[École nationale supérieure de techniques avancées de Bretagne]]'' (ENSTA Bretagne, formerly ENSIETA) [https://www.ensta-bretagne.fr/en]
** ''[[ISEN|Institut supérieur de l'électronique et du numérique]] de Brest'' (ISEN Brest) [https://isen-brest.fr/]
** [[ESC Bretagne Brest|Brest Business School]] (ESC Bretagne Brest) [https://web.archive.org/web/20051025030116/http://www.esc-brest.fr/]
** ''[[École Navale]]'' (French Naval Academy) (in [[Lanvéoc]] next to Brest) [https://www.ecole-navale.fr/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527145420/https://www.ecole-navale.fr/ |date=27 May 2023 }}
** To be noted that Brest is one of the hosts for the Indiana University Honors Foreign Language Program
* Brest has several research organisations:
** the largest [[Ifremer]] (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea) centre (in Plouzané next to Brest); about 1000 people work there.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwz.ifremer.fr/en |title=Institut |publisher=Ifremer.fr |access-date=6 April 2011}}</ref>
** ''Le Cedre'' (Centre of Documentation, Research and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wwz.cedre.fr/en/ |title=Cedre: Centre of Documentation, Research and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution |publisher=Cedre.fr |date=17 March 2011 |access-date=6 April 2011}}</ref>
** the French Polar Institute (in Plouzané next to Brest)
** The [[Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service]] (SHOM)

==Notable people==
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}
Brest was the birthplace of:
* [[Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec]] (1748–1792), [[navigator]]
* [[Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois]] (1761–1848), [[admiral]] during the time of [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]
* [[Antoinette Lemonnier]] (1787–1866), operatic soprano
* [[Prosper Garnot]] (1794–1838), surgeon and [[natural history|naturalist]]
* [[Léon Moreau]] (1870–1946), composer
* [[Victor Segalen]] (1878–1919), naval doctor, [[ethnographer]], [[archeologist]], writer and poet
* [[Jean Cras]] (1879–1932), French composer and career naval officer
* [[Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu]] (1889–1964), priest, diplomat and [[French Navy]] officer and admiral
* [[Jean Loysel]] (1889–1962), composer and lyricist
* [[Alain Robbe-Grillet]] (1922–2008), writer and filmmaker
* [[Pierre Brice]] (1929–2015), actor
* [[Béatrice Dalle]] (born 1964), actress
* [[Christophe Miossec]] (born 1964), singer
* [[Benoît Hamon]] (born 1967), MEP and French presidential candidate, Parti Socialiste, 2017
* [[Yann Tiersen]] (born 1970), minimalist multi instrumentalist/musician
* [[Sébastien Flute]] (born 1972), Olympic gold medalist
* [[Benoît Menut]] (born 1977), composer
* [[Yohann Boulic]] (born 1978), footballer 
* [[Larsen Touré]] (born 1984), footballer (naturalized Guinean)
* [[Gonzalo Higuaín]] (born 1987), footballer (naturalized [[Argentina|Argentine]])
* [[Laury Thilleman]] (born 1991), [[Miss France 2011]]

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in France}}
[[File:Brest - Entree du port.jpg|thumb|The entrance to the harbour of Brest]]

===Twin towns – Sister cities===
Brest is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref name="Les jumelages de Brest">[http://www.mairie-brest.fr/brest/jumelages.htm Les jumelages de Brest] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715041221/http://www.mairie-brest.fr/brest/jumelages.htm |date=15 July 2009}}</ref>
{{div col}}
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Denver]], Colorado, United States (1948)<ref name="Denver Sister Cities International">{{cite web|url=http://denversistercities.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/1st-Q-20101.pdf|title=Our First Sister City|access-date=20 November 2015|work=Denver Sister Cities International|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121025311/http://denversistercities.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/1st-Q-20101.pdf|archive-date=21 November 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|UK}} [[Plymouth]], Devon, England (1963)<ref name="Archant twinning">{{cite web|url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |title=British towns twinned with French towns |access-date=11 July 2013 |work=Archant Community Media Ltd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705094933/http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |archive-date=5 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brest.fr/developpement-rayonnement/relations-internationales/les-jumelages.html |title=Les jumelages |publisher=Brest.fr |access-date=6 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525124614/http://www.brest.fr/developpement-rayonnement/relations-internationales/les-jumelages.html |archive-date=25 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/homepage/communityandliving/twintowns.htm|title=Twin towns|publisher=Plymouth City Council|access-date=1 March 2008}}</ref> 
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Kiel]], Germany (1964)
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Taranto]], Italy (1964)
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yokosuka, Kanagawa|Yokosuka]], [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]], [[Kantō region|Kantō]], Japan (1970)
*{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Dún Laoghaire]], Republic of Ireland (1984)
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Cádiz]], Spain (1986)
*{{flagicon|BFA}} [[Saponé, Burkina Faso|Saponé]], Burkina Faso (1989)
*{{flagicon|ROU}} [[Constanța]], Romania (1993)
*{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Qingdao]], China (2006)
*{{flagicon|BLR}} [[Brest, Belarus|Brest]], Belarus (2012)
{{div col end}}

===Friendly relationship===
Brest has an official friendly relationship (''protocole d'amitié'') with:<ref name="Les jumelages de Brest"/>
*{{flagicon|ALG}} [[Bejaïa]], Algeria (1995)

[[File:26-04-2005-015.jpg|thumb|center|800px|Panorama from the [[pont de Recouvrance|Recouvrance bridge]] of the castle and the Tanguy tower]]

==See also==
*[[Battle for Brest]]
*[[Calvary at Plougastel-Daoulas]]
*[[Communes of the Finistère department]]
*[[Questel Fort]]
*[[Saint-Louis de Brest Church]]
*[[Saint-Sauveur Church in Brest]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
{{See also|Timeline of Brest, France#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Brest, France}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Brest, France}}
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Brest}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051014035924/http://www.brest-metropole-oceane.fr/vueduciel/ Aerial photos of the whole city and urban community]
* [https://brestairport.net/ Brest Airport Travel Guide]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060623043012/http://applications-internet.brest-metropole-oceane.fr/VIPDU40/ Interactive City Map of Brest]
* [https://www.brest.fr/ Official website of Brest town hall (with webcam)]
* [https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=48.392887,-4.479418&spn=0.041503,0.058545&t=k&hl=en Satellite picture by Google Maps]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131105231238/http://patrimoine.region-bretagne.fr/main.xsp?execute=parsed_query&query=com:%7CBrest Brest Cultural Heritage] {{in lang|fr}}
* [https://www.impro-infini.fr/ Brest improvisation theatre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015113443/https://www.impro-infini.fr/ |date=15 October 2019 }}
* [http://www.wiki-brest.net/index.php/Accueil Wiki-Brest], a community wiki containing articles about the city (in French).
* [https://www.battlefieldsww2.com/brest-u-boat-bunker.html German submarine base in Brest]

{{Cities in France}}
{{Finistère communes}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Brest, France| ]]
[[Category:Cities in France]]
[[Category:Communes of Finistère]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in France]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns on the French Atlantic coast]]
[[Category:Subprefectures in France]]
[[Category:Osismii]]
[[Category:Vauban fortifications in France|Brest]]