Concarneau. Concarneau is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in Northwestern France. It has been frequently represented in art due to its picturesque harbor, fortified medieval town, and vibrant maritime life. Artists such as Paul Signac and Henri Le Sidaner are known for their depictions of Concarneau, often focusing on its coastal scenery, fishing boats, and unique light. Signac, for instance, portrayed Concarneau in his characteristic pointillist style, capturing the sparkling sea and atmospheric effects of light on water, as seen in works like Concarneau, Calvary. The town has been a significant site for Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters, who were drawn to its natural beauty and bustling activity. It has been depicted both in vibrant, colorful scenes of daily life and in more serene, contemplative views of its coastal environment. Concarneau's Ville Close, the fortified island within the town, has been a favored subject in many paintings, embodying the blend of history and natural beauty that makes the town a popular subject for artists. Concarneau is bordered to the west by the Baie de La Forêt. The city has two distinct areas: the modern town on the mainland and the medieval Ville Close, a walled town on a long island in the centre of the harbour. Historically, the old town was a centre of shipbuilding; its ramparts date from the 14th century. The Ville Close is now devoted to tourism with many restaurants and shops aimed at tourists. However restraint has been shown in resisting the excesses of souvenir shops. Also in the Ville Close is the fishing museum. The Ville Close is connected to the town by a bridge and at the other end a ferry to the village of Lanriec on the other side of the harbour. In August the town holds the annual Fête des Filets Bleus. The festival, named after the traditional blue nets of Concarneau's fishing fleet, is a celebration of Breton and pan-Celtic culture. Such festivals can occur throughout Brittany but the Filets Bleus is one of the oldest and largest, attracting in excess of a thousand participants in traditional dress with many times that number of observers. In 2005, the 100th festival was celebrated. Concarneau was the setting for Belgian mystery writer Georges Simenon's 1931 novel Le Chien jaune, featuring his celebrated sleuth Maigret. Fishing, particularly for tuna, has long been the primary economic activity in Concarneau. The Les Mouettes d'Arvor is one of the last traditional canning factories in Concarneau. Concarneau is one of the biggest fishing ports in France. Since the 1980s, other industries have arisen, such as boat construction and summer tourism. The Ville Close separates the working port from the yacht basin.
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