# Le Faou

> commune in Finistère, France

**Wikidata**: [Q220732](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220732)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Faou)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/le-faou

## Summary

Le Faou is a commune located in the Finistère department of Brittany, France, situated at coordinates 48.294166666667°N latitude and -4.1775°E longitude. The commune was part of the former Communauté de communes de l'Aulne Maritime intercommunality and belongs to the arrondissement of Châteaulin. Historically, Le Faou was the seat of the canton of Le Faou until March 2015.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Finistère department, Brittany region, France
- **Coordinates**: 48.294166666667°N, -4.1775°E
- **Administrative status**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities, established 1789)
- **Administrative hierarchy**: Part of arrondissement of Châteaulin
- **Former intercommunality**: Communauté de communes de l'Aulne Maritime (2001–2016)
- **Former canton**: Canton of Le Faou (until March 2015)
- **Department**: Finistère (established March 4, 1790)
- **Country**: France
- **Website**: https://www.lefaou.bzh
- **Alias**: Faou
- **Wikipedia title**: Le Faou
- **Wikidata description**: commune in Finistère, France
- **Sitelink count**: 50

## FAQs

**What region and department is Le Faou located in?**

Le Faou is located in the Finistère department of the Brittany (Bretagne) region in northwestern France. Finistère is the westernmost department of metropolitan France.

**What administrative divisions does Le Faou belong to?**

Le Faou is a commune in the Finistère department. It is part of the arrondissement of Châteaulin. Until March 2015, it served as the seat of the canton of Le Faou.

**What intercommunality was Le Faou part of?**

Le Faou was a member of the Communauté de communes de l'Aulne Maritime, a former French intercommunality established in 2001. The headquarters of this intercommunality were located in Le Faou itself.

**What is the population history of Le Faou?**

Historical population figures for Le Faou span from the 18th century to the early 20th century, with recorded populations including 1,725 (1725), 1,723 (1723), 1,758 (1758), 1,313 (1832), 1,510 (1882), and 1,911 (1911).

**What is the official website of Le Faou?**

The official website of Le Faou is https://www.lefaou.bzh, which uses the .bzh top-level domain specifically reserved for Brittany.

## Why It Matters

Le Faou represents a traditional Breton commune that embodies the historical administrative structure of rural France. As part of Finistère—the westernmost department of metropolitan France—Le Faou sits at the heart of Brittany, a region with a distinct cultural identity, Celtic heritage, and unique linguistic traditions. The commune's membership in the former Communauté de communes de l'Aulne Maritime demonstrates its role in regional cooperation and shared resource management among neighboring municipalities. The town's historical significance as the seat of the canton of Le Faou until 2015 highlights its traditional role as a local administrative center. The use of the .bzh internet domain reflects Brittany's assertion of its regional identity within the digital space. For those interested in French geography, administrative reorganization, or Breton culture, Le Faou serves as an example of how smaller communes function within the broader framework of French departmental and regional organization.

## Notable For

- Westernmost major region of metropolitan France (Brittany/Finistère)
- Historical seat of the canton of Le Faou until 2015
- Use of the .bzh Brittany-specific internet domain
- Part of the Aulne Maritime intercommunity (2001–2016)
- Located at the geographic heart of traditional Breton territory

## Body

### Geography and Location

Le Faou is situated in the northwestern French department of Finistère, which occupies the westernmost peninsula of metropolitan France. The commune's precise geographic coordinates are 48.294166666667°N latitude and -4.1775°E longitude, placing it within the Brittany (Bretagne) region. Finistère is known for its rugged coastline, Celtic heritage, and distinct cultural identity that sets it apart from other French regions. The town lies within the arrondissement of Châteaulin, one of the administrative divisions responsible for coordinating local government functions within the department.

### Administrative History

Le Faou holds the status of a commune of France, which is the lowest level of territorial administration in the French system. The commune as an administrative unit was established in 1789 during the French Revolution, replacing the previous system of parishes and villages. Le Faou served as the seat of the canton of Le Faou until March 2015, when French administrative reorganization led to the restructuring of cantonal boundaries. This change reflected broader trends in French local government toward consolidating administrative functions and reducing the number of small administrative units.

### Intercommunal Structure

From 2001 until 2016, Le Faou was a member of the Communauté de communes de l'Aulne Maritime, a former French intercommunality. This intercommunity was established to facilitate cooperation among multiple communes in the area, allowing them to share resources, coordinate development projects, and manage common services. The headquarters of the Communauté de communes de l'Aulne Maritime were located in Le Faou, underscoring the commune's regional importance. The intercommunity operated in sectors including economic development, environmental protection, and public services.

### Departmental Context

Le Faou is located within the department of Finistère, which was created on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution. Finistère is one of the five departments that make up the Brittany region, and it is the westernmost department in metropolitan France. The department's name derives from the Latin "Finisterrae," meaning "end of the earth," reflecting its geographic position at the tip of the Breton peninsula. Finistère is known for its strong Celtic cultural traditions, Breton language (Brezhoneg), and historical identity that predates French administrative integration.

### Digital Presence

Le Faou maintains an official website at https://www.lefaou.bzh. The use of the .bzh top-level domain is notable because it is a geographic top-level domain specifically reserved for Brittany. This domain reflects the region's efforts to assert its digital identity and distinguish itself within the broader French and international online landscape. The .bzh domain is part of a broader movement among French regions with strong cultural identities to establish dedicated internet presences.

### Historical Demographics

Population records for Le Faou span several centuries, showing demographic fluctuations typical of rural French communes. The earliest recorded populations include 1,725 (1725), 1,723 (1723), and 1,758 (1758). Later figures show 1,727 (1735), 1,735 (1744), 1,669 (1782), 1,716 (1716), and 1,571 (1669). The 19th and early 20th centuries show populations of 1,313 (1832), 1,510 (1882), and 1,911 (1911). These figures illustrate the demographic challenges faced by many rural French communes during the period of industrialization and urbanization, when populations often declined as residents migrated to larger cities.

### Relationship to French Administrative System

As a commune, Le Faou operates within France's hierarchical administrative system, which includes the commune at the base level, cantons as intermediate electoral and administrative units, arrondissements as sub-divisions of departments, departments as primary administrative units, and regions as the highest level of territorial organization. The commune belongs to the Finistère department ( in Wikidata), which is part of the Brittany region. This administrative structure reflects France's unitary state organization, where local governments operate under the authority of national government while maintaining local autonomy within defined boundaries.

## References

1. French National Directory of Representatives
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
5. INSEE code
6. [Source](http://mnesys-viewer.archives-finistere.fr/accounts/mnesys_cg29/datas/medias/collections/edepot_pdf/EDEPOT_LeFaou.pdf)
7. répertoire géographique des communes
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. [Source](https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/service-public-fr-annuaire-de-l-administration-base-de-donnees-locales/)
10. Annuaire de service-public.fr
11. MusicBrainz
12. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
13. Populations légales 2016
14. Populations légales 2017
15. Populations légales 2018
16. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
17. Populations légales 2019
18. Populations légales 2020
19. Populations légales 2021
20. Populations de référence 2022
21. Populations de référence 2023
22. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
23. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
24. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
25. [Source](https://www.habitants.fr/le-faou)
26. GeoNames
27. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
28. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
29. [Code officiel géographique. 2020](https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/8442dfae-a878-49c6-be4c-20689b1c337c)
30. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)